🏏India tour of England: Eng vs India, 4th Test. July 23-27, Day 5 - Page 35

Still believe India can do it..jadeja should play responsibly today ..hope he doesnt get chance and rahul and gill seal it for India

Originally posted by: Viswasruti

Welcome back to day 4 play.

When the first session begins on Day 2, India will be looking to stage a fight back and break the threatening partnership of Ollie Pope (20*) and Joe Root (11*). Pope and Root will resume batting for the hosts, who stand at 225/2, in response to India’s 358. Ben Stokes’ first five-for in eight years on Day 2 shifted the tide to England’s side and it was well-complemented by a 166-run opening run stand between openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley. On Day 2, England bowlers were in total control and hit better lenghts, found movement with the second ball and dismantled India for 358, even though Rishabh Pant put in a heroic effort with the bat, despite a broken foot. The Indian total seemed good before England began their innings.

Thank you for the tag Madhu btw gonna miss Rishabh pant today

Originally posted by: Swathi_7

Still believe India can do it..jadeja should play responsibly today ..hope he doesnt get chance and rahul and gill seal it for India

Yes I agree 💯

Originally posted by: Swathi_7

Still believe India can do it..jadeja should play responsibly today ..hope he doesnt get chance and rahul and gill seal it for India

Originally posted by: Bhavisweet03

Yes I agree 💯

Bhavi how are you doing?

Originally posted by: mushat

Bhavi how are you doing?

I am fine

How are you dear ? And how's our little one?

https://twitter.com/CRI__KIT/status/1949382129369944286

If our openers manage to survive for the first 20 overs/2 hours, then the match will become a thriller, whether we'll be able to survive or not??!!

KL Rahul and Shubman Gill will resume their fight on Day 5 in the Manchester Test against England to keep India alive in the series. The two batters' unbeaten 174-run stand has kept England at bay and revived hopes of a draw in the contest. After losing Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan in the first over, many predicted the match on Day 4 itself, but Gill and Rahul showed grit and resilience to push the match to the final day. The two batters are close to their centuries, but the primary task is to help India avoid defeat.

India closed Day 4 at 174 for 2, still 137 runs behind but having stalled England’s momentum with a defiant stand. With rain expected on Sunday, the hosts now face a race against time to push for a victory that had seemed well within reach earlier in the day.

Earlier, Chris Woakes took two wickets in two balls in the first over of India's second innings to leave them reeling on 0-2 before lunch as the pressure mounted on Gill and Rahul to rebuild the innings. The duo displayed tremendous grit and determination to stage a fightback, keeping India afloat in the contest—though realistically, only a draw appears within reach.

Meanwhile, England skipper Ben Stokes, who took five wickets in India's first innings, elected not to bowl after retiring hurt with cramp when batting on Friday.

India still trail by 137 runs, but a spirited batting effort has kept alive their hopes of salvaging a draw in Manchester — a result that would be seen as a moral victory given the match situation. England, leading the five-match series 2-1, had earlier piled up their fifth-highest total in Test history to tighten their grip on the game.

However, Shubman Gill's composed innings offered India some relief. After a brilliant start to the series as captain with three centuries in his first four innings, the right-hander had slumped with just 34 runs across his last three outings. His return to form couldn’t have come at a more crucial moment.

KL Rahul shows no sign of weakness!

KL Rahul has appeared rock-solid on Day 4, offering no clear chances while showcasing a compact technique and playing the ball late with precision. Though England’s seamers extracted notable movement both through the air and off the surface, batting conditions eased during the final session as the sun broke through the clouds at Old Trafford. Rahul took full advantage, unfurling elegant square and back cuts that oozed class.

Rain expected to play spoilsport!

Rain could play a decisive role on Day 5 of the Manchester Test, with forecasts indicating a strong likelihood of showers disrupting the morning session. According to the UK’s National Meteorological Service, precipitation chances are highest during the first three hours of play, potentially delaying the start. Encouragingly for India, the outlook improves later in the day, with the likelihood of rainfall dropping significantly as the afternoon progresses—offering a possible window for uninterrupted play.