An enthralling opening day of the fourth Test between England and India at Old Trafford saw momentum swing both ways, as India ended on 264/4 despite injury concerns surrounding Rishabh Pant and a late fightback from the English bowlers.
After winning a fourth straight toss in the series, England skipper Ben Stokes opted to bowl first under overcast skies. The hosts made a solitary change, bringing in spinner Liam Dawson for Shoaib Bashir, while India made three — including a debut for pacer Anshul Khamboj and returns for Sai Sudharsan and Shardul Thakur.
India’s openers responded with grit and flair in the morning session. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul weathered an early storm from Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer. Woakes twice found Jaiswal’s edge in his opening over, but both chances dropped short. Despite the testing conditions, the Indian pair grew in confidence. Jaiswal shrugged off a broken bat handle — courtesy of Woakes — with a flowing drive and later upper-cut Ben Stokes for six as India reached lunch unscathed.
Post-lunch, however, England clawed their way back. Woakes drew Rahul into a fatal poke outside off to break the opening stand at 94, India’s best of the series. Jaiswal, after completing a fluent 58 and surpassing 1000 Test runs against England, was caught at slip off Dawson. Gill followed soon after, trapped lbw by Stokes after shouldering arms to a delivery that jagged in, also costing India a review.
Pant crossed 1000 Test runs in England during the stand, which crossed 50, but his innings was cut short not by the bowlers but by injury. A blow to his right foot left him visibly in pain, and he had to be helped off the field by a medical cart, casting a shadow over India’s day.
Sudharsan pressed on to a composed half-century, while Jadeja got going with a series of boundaries. However, Stokes’ persistence with the short ball paid off again as Sudharsan miscued a pull to fine leg, departing for a well-made 61, his third dismissal to the England captain this series.
Thakur, promoted ahead of Washington Sundar, struck an early boundary, and Jadeja added one more before fading light brought play to a premature close with just under 10 minutes remaining. England’s slow over rate even earned them an official warning.
Playing XIs:
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Anshul Kamboj, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Liam Dawson, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer
