England Dominate, India Resist: High-Stakes Drama in the Manchester Test 2025 Day 4 of the 4th Test between India and England at Old Trafford, Manchester, on July 26, 2025, was a testament to the enduring drama and unpredictability of Test cricket. Entering the day, England were in a dominant position having amassed a mammoth 544 for 7 at stumps on Day 3, which gave them a commanding lead of 186 over India’s first-innings total of 358.
England’s Innings: A Display of Batting Mastery
England began Day 4 firmly in control. Their third-day heroics were led by Joe Root, who played a sublime, career-defining innings of 150, surpassing giants like Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, and Ricky Ponting to become Test cricket’s second all-time leading run-scorer, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar. Root’s technical mastery and composure underlined his legacy, while his 144-run stand with Ollie Pope (71) had already broken India’s resolve.
England also benefited from a brutal, entertaining opening stand between Zak Crawley (84) and Ben Duckett (94), who set the tone on Day 2 with a 166-run partnership against a lackluster Indian bowling attack struggling for rhythm and movement. Captain Ben Stokes, plagued by cramps, further demoralized the bowlers with a defiant 77* and looked set to secure England’s total dominance alongside Liam Dawson (21*). India’s bowlers, especially with both Bumrah and Siraj nursing injuries at points, seldom threatened the set batsmen, and the Old Trafford crowd relished the spectacle.
The Declaration and India’s Nightmarish Start
Resuming at 544/7, England continued to press home their advantage on a rain-affected morning. Ben Stokes, pushing for a personal milestone, went on to 141 his highest score of the series before England eventually declared, setting India a target that would require a monumental effort simply to escape defeat.
What followed was a catastrophic start for India. Chris Woakes, extracting bounce and movement, dismissed both Yashasvi Jaiswal and opening partner B Sai Sudharsan for golden ducks in the very first over. At 0/2, India were staring down the barrel, still trailing by over 300 runs with more than five sessions to survive. English bowlers smelt blood, and the crowd sensed an innings victory was on the cards.
Grit Under Pressure: The Rahul-Gill Partnership
England Dominate, India Resist: High-Stakes Drama in the Manchester Test 2025 What transpired next was a gritty display of Test match resilience. Shubman Gill and KL Rahul came together in crisis, tasked with the unenviable job of salvaging the game and, by extension, the series for India. For hour after painstaking hour, they blunted England’s attack with defensive solidity and judicious shot selection. Faced with overcast conditions and a menacing English pace battery, the pair eschewed risk, focusing solely on occupying the crease.
By tea, the two had weathered spells by Woakes, Anderson, and Wood, with Rahul particularly impressive in his ability to leave deliveries outside off-stump and Gill unafraid to soak up maidens. Still trailing by over a hundred runs, they managed to chip away at the deficit, slowly consolidating India’s position.
As the day wore on, England turned to spin and reverse swing, pressing for breakthroughs, but Gill and Rahul stood firm. Gill began driving through the covers and Rahul, known for his patience under duress, reached his half-century with a crisp boundary. The crowd, impatient for a quick finish, grew restless as the two Indians frustrated England’s plans.
Stumps: India Fight Back
England Dominate, India Resist: High-Stakes Drama in the Manchester Test 2025 Bad light and intermittent rain briefly threatened to curtail proceedings, but the clouds cleared, and play continued until close. By stumps, the scoreboard told the story of an unexpected turnaround: India ended Day 4 at 174/2, with KL Rahul unbeaten on 87 and Shubman Gill on 78, leaving them 137 runs behind but with hope of a hard-fought draw. Their unbroken 174-run partnership not only rescued India from imminent collapse but also set up a potentially thrilling final day in Manchester.
Tactical Decisions and Key Moments
England Dominate, India Resist: High-Stakes Drama in the Manchester Test 2025
Several tactical calls became points of post-play debate. India’s reluctance to use specialist spinner Washington Sundar until deep into England’s innings was criticized by fans and pundits alike, with Sundar eventually making the breakthrough but far too late to limit the damage. The pitch, flat and unresponsive, offered little to bowlers of either side from the second day onward, but India’s missed opportunities in the field and some untidy bowling compounded their woes.
On the English side, Stokes’ all-round performance his first five-wicket haul in eight years and a majestic hundred in the same match stood out as a captain’s effort for the ages. However, their inability to dislodge Gill and Rahul in more than 60 overs of disciplined batting brought into question their finishing instinct.
The Outlook
England Dominate, India Resist: High-Stakes Drama in the Manchester Test 2025 Heading into Day 5, the match hung in the balance England still eyeing a series-clinching win and India, against all odds, pressing for a draw to keep their World Test Championship hopes alive. With rain forecast and the pitch slowing down, the task for both sides was clear but challenging: England needed quick wickets, while India required more mettle and marathon defense.
Day 4 was a day of high drama, classic Test match attrition, and individual excellence with history, records, and reputations at stake for both sides.