“IND VS ENG 4th Test, Day 5: India Seal the Test Match in a Tense Final Hour” India’s 4th Test against England at Old Trafford, concluded on 27 July 2025, produced a classic Test cricket escape, with India forcing a memorable draw after five relentless days. The match, which could have handed England the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, instead goes into a decider with the hosts leading 2-1-a testament to the remarkable resilience shown by the Indian team, spearheaded by captain Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar.
Setting the Scene: England’s Mammoth Lead
“IND VS ENG 4th Test, Day 5: India Seal the Test Match in a Tense Final Hour”
The context for India’s final-day fightback was set by England’s domination of the first three days. England’s first-innings total of 669—built on Ben Stokes’s commanding 141 and key lower-order partnerships—gave them a colossal 311-run first-innings advantage. India’s bowling, led by Ravindra Jadeja’s four wickets, was made to toil on an unresponsive pitch, and their brief first-innings resistance was clearly insufficient to stave off England’s momentum.
Collapse and Fightback: India’s Second Innings
India’s second innings began in the worst manner possible, with both openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and B Sai Sudharsan departing for ducks in the very first over, courtesy of Chris Woakes and sharp English new-ball bowling. At 0-2, a three-day finish seemed a real possibility. However, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul rebuilt doggedly, grinding out a historic, match-saving partnership.
The pair’s third-wicket stand was remarkable for its composure and technical clarity. They defended stoutly through the evening of Day 4 and into the final day, blunting the English bowlers and the old ball. By the end of Day 4, India had recovered to 174/2, still 137 behind but with hope rekindled.
Day 5: Defiance and Drama
“IND VS ENG 4th Test, Day 5: India Seal the Test Match in a Tense Final Hour”
As Day 5 dawned, all realistic results pointed towards either an England win or an improbable draw for India. Gill and Rahul resumed, slowly chipping away at the deficit. Their partnership stretched to a monumental 417 balls, showcasing exceptional grit and temperament. Gill, in particular, was flawless, notching up his fourth century in his debut series as captain—a record, surpassing even legends like Bradman and Kohli.
Rahul, meanwhile, narrowly missed his own hundred, falling for 90 after hours of concentration, but not before setting the bedrock for India’s resistance. Once Gill was dismissed for a sublime 133, caught behind off Jofra Archer, India looked wobbly at 222/4.
At this stage, England scented victory. They attacked with renewed vigour as Ravindra Jadeja came to the crease. However, fortune favoured India—Jadeja was dropped first ball by Joe Root at slip, a costly mistake in hindsight. From there, Jadeja and Washington Sundar skillfully navigated the new ball and mixed judicious aggression with solid defense.
The Jadeja-Washington Stand
“IND VS ENG 4th Test, Day 5: India Seal the Test Match in a Tense Final Hour”
The partnership between Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar transformed the contest. Both all-rounders relished the challenge, driving India past the follow-on mark and then, remarkably, into the lead late in the day. Jadeja, dropped early, dominated the spinners and rotated the strike superbly; Sundar was measured and precise, absorbing pressure and picking boundaries when available.
The pair’s stand exceeded 150, with both batsmen reaching deserved centuries Jadeja for the second time in England, and Sundar’s maiden overseas ton. As India crossed 425/4 after 143 overs in the second innings, it was clear they had rescued the match from the brink.
Tension and Testiness
As the overs wore down, England’s desperation grew. Their bowlers, visibly fatigued, found little assistance from the pitch. England captain Ben Stokes, who had already been named Player of the Match for his all-round heroics (141 runs and six wickets across both innings), offered India the draw as the final hour began, sensing that victory was out of reach. However, Jadeja and Sundar declined, wishing to secure their centuries a rare moment of competitive gamesmanship that led to heated words and drama between the sides.
Conclusion: A Match for the Ages
“IND VS ENG 4th Test, Day 5: India Seal the Test Match in a Tense Final Hour” When stumps were called, India had finished on 425/4, with Jadeja unbeaten on 107 and Sundar on 101. The draw was celebrated as a moral triumph for India—a result that seemed impossible after the opening over of their second innings. England, despite dominating much of the Test, were denied the series win they had seemed poised to clinch.
The series now moves to The Oval, with England holding a slender 2-1 advantage, but all the pressure firmly on their side. The fight and camaraderie shown on Day 5 at Old Trafford stood as one of India’s most dogged Test escapes proof that in cricket, no cause is ever truly lost while there are wickets, overs, and belief left to play for