Shubman Gill led the youthful Indian side from the front as they batted for over five sessions to draw the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester, keeping the five-match series alive.
On Sunday, July 27, England got off to a good start when Ben Stokes bowled KL Rahul for 90 in the opening session.
The Rahul-Gill partnership scored 188 runs off 417 balls, the greatest by an Indian partnership in Tests in England in the twenty-first century.
Following Rahul’s dismissal, Washington Sundar was promoted to number five. He added 34 runs alongside his captain. Gill scored his fourth century on the tour before being removed by Jofra Archer for 103 off 238 balls.
The veteran Ravindra Jadeja joined forces with Sundar. The two all-rounders tormented the England bowlers by playing traditional cricket without trying anything new. Stokes threw the kitchen sink at Jadeja and Sundar, but they were ready to fight. They eliminated the gap and helped India seize the lead. This destroyed the English players’ aspirations since they knew they had to bat again, and time was running out for them.
Both Jadeja and Sundar had hit their half-centuries, and the finish line was close, but there was no sign of complacency. They played the English bowlers on their merits, forming a partnership that exemplified endurance and perseverance.
Archer looked far from his best, frequently straying down the leg side. Stokes attempted to confuse the batters with various unusual field configurations, but they were unfazed. The England skipper instructed his frontline spinner, Liam Dawson, to target rough areas more frequently. However, the strategy was unsuccessful.
Finally, as Sundar and Jadeja approached their centuries, Stokes decided to settle for a draw. He offered a handshake, but Jadeja declined, citing historic personal landmarks. While Stokes was not pleased, the two left-handed hitters persevered and went on to score century.
Jadeja remained unbeaten on 107 off 185 deliveries. Meanwhile, Sundar scored his first international ton, finishing not out on 101 off 206 balls. India finished on 425/4 in 143 overs to keep the scoreline at 1-2 in favour of England, with one Test match still to play.
India
