India vs England, 4th Test Day 5 Highlights: Gill, Sundar and Jadeja help IND save Manchester Test against ENG

Extremely pleased with the batting effort. Past couple of days we were put under tremendous pressure. It's all about taking the wicket out of the equation. Day 5 wicket, something is happening, every ball is an event. Wanted to take it ball by ball and take it deep, which is what we spoke about. We thought they deserved a century there (about the decision to not shake hands). Every match going till the last session on the last day. Plenty of learnings. Has taught us a lot as a group. Doesn't matter how many runs you've scored in the past. Every time you walk wearing the whites of the country, there are some jitters. That tells how much I care playing for the country. In the first innings, we did post a good total. But a lot of our batters did get set. Important on these wickets for set batters to go deep. Unfortunately it didn't happen. But pleased with the way we were able to do that in the second innings. Will have to wait and see (about Bumrah). As long as we're winning the match (at the Oval), don't care about the toss.

Well, Sundar too completed his century, and then the players shook hands to call it a day. While there might be different opinions about it but India has played an exceptional game since last evening. They were dead and buried in the contest, but they made sure they stuck in there, showed grit, and got to the end result. Ben Stokes would not like the result, nor would he like how the way game ended nevertheless, he will be aware that his side has not won a Test match, which they have outplayed India for most of it. Do stay with us, we will be right back with the presentation.

Ravidnra Jadeja has got to his century here and now it is Washington Sundar's to do. The English skipper Ben Stokes is just using part-timers here and they are just throwing some ordinary stuff. For all the hard work and heartache India have had to endure in Lord's this has been quite a bit of an effort from them. 

12.7.6 Last Hour
A minimum of 15 overs shall be bowled in the last hour and all calculations with regard to suspensions of
play or the start of a new innings shall be based on 1 over for each full 4 minutes (refer to clause 12.7.9
below).
22
On the final day, if both captains (the batters at the wicket may act for their captain) accept that there is no
prospect of either side achieving a victory, they may agree to finish the match after (a) the time for the
commencement of the last hour has been reached OR (b) there are a minimum of 15 overs to be bowled,
whichever is the later.

Well, well, Ben Stokes did call it off, but both the Indian batters looked not interested whatsoever. Both the Indian batters are in their 80s, and they can see their Test tons, which is completely understandable. And Ben Stokes was quite unhappy with the decision of India not shaking hands and all the players surrounded Ravindra Jadeja and had a go at him. We are into the final hour now, or 15 hours that need to be bowled before this game is called off, or we can also fairly say as long as both these batters get their century marks before India calls it a day.

Jadeja is racing away here. He is looking good for a ton here. Once India's lead was assured and the result of the game was likely, he just started to accelerate and is looking for a ton here. Also, England is using two spinners which means it does seem like they have thrown in the towel. We are now at that stage of the innings where umpires might nudge Stokes once, asking about the draw as an option and given how the body language have changed and the workload his pace bowlers have taken, we might see Stokes nod yes pretty quickly. 

If this test were to be drawn, what it would look like, will India be tempted to play Bumrah in the next test? That's something to be seen. He did do quite a bit of bowling in this game and he did not get much out of the surface. And Oval historically has been another flatter one and given how both the batting orders have gone in the series, we might see another long workload there. And on the flipside, India will have a chance to level the series in the Oval and the side will be better off having Bumrah in it. Apart from that, we might definitely see Prasidh Krishna coming back into the side.

Archer has come on for a burst here. We might not see a longer spell from him, it might be a final throw of the dice from Stokes, hoping some collapse can be triggered somehow, but it does seem quite flat when he had the opportunity; he did miss his mark quite consistently, although a catch of his dropped. Root has come from the other end for Dawson. They tried everything they could in England, but in the end, the Indians were quite resilient and the pitch had too little to work with, and their spinners lacked the venom to make the most of the rough that was on offer.

The shoulders have started to drop a bit for England, which is the organic way things go in these situations. Stokes will start thinking about it now that he has to. There are still about two hours in this game, and the wicket has gone to sleep here. There is no way we are getting to the third new ball from here, so it does seem like we almost know what the result of this game will be. This has been a brilliant effort from India. They were 0/2 at one stage of this innings, and it did seem like it would be quite embarrassing for the young side, but they did show their steel and metal today.

This is a pretty nice passage for both Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja. They are nicely set on the wicket that is not offering much if they play it right, both have the chances to make centuries. It has been pretty solid, India could have collapsed when they got together but they ensured it did not happen. Both of them have pretty tight defensive techniques, and Jadeja is a seasoned campaigner and has been to this part of the world in various red-ball tours and have seen India bundled out for cheap scores, and with all that experience he played a brilliant knock in Lord's. As per Sundar, he already in his brief career has shown immense potential and temperament and once again, he is showing it today.

Liam Dawson has been a bit of a disappointment here for England. Although it is a return for him after a long time in international cricket, he has had to make the most of the opportunity, especially with a rough outside the left-hander. He has been quite economical, but on days like this what the captain expects the spinner to be a bit more aggressive and give it a more rip. Not to compare but someone like Monty Panesar, who himself is a left-arm spinner, would have been quite handy on this pitch with the revs he can generate and the drift he gets at a very quick pace he bowls.

Woakes and Dawson are it is who start the session for England. The Woakes decision seems like England still has a few plans left in them, and the Dawson decision with the fielders close in indicates they do want to keep trying and pick the Indian wickets. Well, it is a long shot, but in this format of the game, we can never rule anything out. The wicket has been quite flat once the morning session is done. Which has been the case all the Days in this Test match, and it might have to do with the moisture that has not dried out, which is a bit strange thing to happen in England because of how late the games start here in the morning.

Well, the Indian fans, after a few horrific days, will be relieved at what they have seen last evening and today. This is where the format proves itself again why it is the greatest, and there is always a chance to escape well, it is not done yet, but at this point in time, it does seem like India will get away with a draw here.

KL Rahul and Shubman Gill lie on white beach towels on the Old Trafford turf, stretching their limbs for what they expect to be a long day ahead. As if they needed reminding, an early bird Indian fan from the empty stands lets out a shout that is unsolicited advice – “Poore din khelna hai (Have to play the whole day)”.

They don’t even turn back, but move on to face a few throw-downs from the trainers. Soon they are at the crease to play what is being called the crucial couple of hours that would decide the Test and the series. This first session was to determine the outcome of the match and series. (Read more from Sandeep Dwivedi)

That is a remarkable session for India. Probably the one that closed the game. Although England will still believe they can win this game with the current situation but given that India has gotten the lead, that is a pretty slim bet even to odds-defying bazballers. Joe Root would be replaying that catch he dropped before lunch, of Jadeja, what if he had galloped it? But for Shubman Gill's men, it was the luck they needed to save this game, and they are making the most of it. We will be right back with the final session for this game the result of which is mostly decided.

India has taken the lead here, and Stokes has brought in both his spinners. Are these the first signs of England shutting the shop in this game, or is it just one of those things where teams do just before the break, they try something different? If it is shutting the shop tactic too, it is fine from England's perspective, these bowlers have done a lot of work in the series and the next game is just three days away. If Stokes keeps his seamers to coming back for spells with the wicket not having much in it, it might have a negative effect on the bodies of the bowlers and may create fatigue for them going into the Oval Test.

Washington Sunder with a six and a four brings up his half-century. He did come at five, anda  few eyebrows were raised when he did, but he played this quite brilliantly. One of the features of Sundar is when he does bat with regular batters, there is a certain fluency and tempo to his innings, it is when he bats with the tail that he was found wanting. Once again he came in when Shubman Gill was at the other end and he got himself in and as his innings progressed he changed gears and played a few more shots. As we update, Ravindra Jadeja has scored his half-century here.

Things have gone to sleep again as expected. This was always the case the moment the ball loses its shine, and when the ball was new, Jofra Archer had the opportunity to create inroads, but he could not find the right line. Also, it did feel like Woakes was given a shorter spell compared to other seamers. It is understandable that he wanted to use Liam Dawson from the end, where there was rough, but Woakes could have bowled a bit more, as he was the one who looked more threatening compared to Archer. Well, we have been here with Stokes before; he is quite an instinctive captain, and he has a way of doing things. There is still a long way to go in this game.

Ben Stokes has brought himself into the attack, replacing Joe Root. Root has been a mixed bag, where he started to slip in loose ball regularly, hence the captain thought it was wise to bring himself into the attack. In this series as Stokes has made things happen and we might see the same again. Because of his bowling action, he is always in the game as it does seem like the ball is moving away to the left-handers, but if Stokes just keeps it straight, it might create opportunities for LBW against the left-handers. Although we might see him operate around the wicket for the left-hander here.

Ravindra Jadeja has gotten himself off to a start again here today. He has batted quite well, although he was dropped off the very first ball of the innings. After that, he batted quite fluently. This has been the story of his series, his bowling might not have been as effective as it had been in the previous tours this time, but his batting has definitely come through this time. If Shubman Gill has been the one who has been shining in front, is it Jadeja's contribution coming down the order and holding the innings on are helping India to not collapse again and again which became a habit in recent times.

That is India's hour. It did got a bit tense when they took the field after the Lunch break, but both left-handers have manipulated it quite well, and now that the ball is a bit old once again they can breathe a bit easier. Also, it is quite amazing how little the other English seamers have been able to get when Ben Stokes was not operating. Stokes, because of his natural action and release, has found that lovely spot on the wicket which has misbehaved when ball was pitched and others have not been able to find. Archer, especially who is brutal against left-handers has drifted down the pads too often in his attempt to look for that uneven bounce and bowl straight to the batters. 

It is a double change from England; Stokes has turned to Joe Root. One thing appreciable of Stokes and his captaincy, which other captains are quite reluctant to do, is to use Root the bowler quite frequently. The way the game is going in these modern times, batters who can bowl are a bit of a rarity and who better knows than the Indian cricket and also there is a certain level of reluctance to use the second skill of batters. But Stokes has been quite keen on using Root's off-spin. There have been occasions when England toured India in 2024, and he even opened the bowling against Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma.

Brydon Carse has been introduced here. He did have his moments in the series, but for the most part, he has been quite inconsistent. While the wickets are quite flat, the bowler himself was not able to hit good areas to keep the batters tight. Far too often, it has been either too short or too full, which allowed the batters to score some easy runs after the initial pressure was built. While Woakes too has not been able to pick as many wickets in the series, he has been quite disciplined with the areas he has his and he bowled within himself and kept pressure from his end at least.

Liam Dawson has bowled quite well here. Although he does not have much experience at this level, he is a seasoned campaigner in English county cricket and has delivered many workman-like performances; however, today, here and now, he has to put on a show. It is good that Stokes is showing faith in his left-arm spinner, but Dawson needs to come through. He is bowling quite nicely, but he needs a bit more from somewhere, be it his pace or be it his revs to induce that wicket because the Indians are playing him quite well. This does remind a spell from 2014 when Nathan Lyon had the responsibility to get through the Indian batting order. He did struggle for a long while, but once he got the first wicket, he just ran through the Indian side.

Both Sundar and Jadeja need to keep rotating the strike here. Although both are left-handers, it would be easier to deal with Dawson and Archer if they constantly look for that quick single and share the burden. If both get stuck at either end, it will get easier for Archer and Dawson to plan their dismissal. Archer bowling in around that middle and off will nip one away from the batter, and there will be that odd delivery which Dawson will bowl as a variation to the batter who is constantly looking to fend off the rough deliveries. It is a bit tense here at the moment.

Jofra Archer and Liam Dawson are the bowlers Stokes went with after Lunch, which is the right move. Archer has an exceptional record against left-handers, and Dawson has rough outside the off-stump to work with. It is going to be a tricky period for both Sundar and Jadeja until the ball loses a bit of seam prominence, as long as there is that seam, there will be that odd-ball, which will suddenly do something. Although Archer has yet to find his rhythm but the erratic nature of his own bowling and the pitch might make it doubly difficult for the Indian batters. However, once the ball loses shine, the draw will be back in the picture yet again.

This is going to be a very important session for India. They have only one way to play it, which is to survive, and for England, it is about running through the Indian batting. The ball is still new, and the pitch will respond if the bowlers put it in the right areas. This session might series defining for both sides.

Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has highly praised England captain Ben Stokes for his match-winning innings of 141 in the first innings of the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford. Ashwin specifically highlighted Stokes' "never-die spirit" as a key factor that differentiates him from other cricketers. (Read more)

India's captain, Shubman Gill, scores his 9th Test century and 4th of a series against England in Manchester, equaling a record held by Sir Donald Bradman and Sunil Gavaskar. He reached the century in 228 balls with 12 fours, supported by KL Rahul, who scored 90. (Read more)

“Hopefully we see wicket starts to deteriorate a little more. It started to happen yesterday,” Root told Michael Atherton on Sky Cricket after Saturday’s end of play. “Generally the trend at Old Trafford is it deteriorates a lot quicker on day 4 and 5. So clearly we got bit of runs in the bag.”

Well, those were nervy last 10-15 minutes for India. Shubman Gill will be kicking himself, although he did score the 100, it was a nothing dismissal of a nothing delivery. With him in the middle, India were looking assured to pull off a draw, but now things are looking a bit iffy. Both Ravidnra Jadeja and Washington Sundar are left-handers, and England have two bowlers in Jofra Archer and Liam Dawson who can make the most of the conditions here to get them out with the ball still relatively new. After looking a bit confused, England are right back in the ascendancy in this game. Do join us after the break to get all the updates.

Well, Archer picked up Shubman Gill. Well, it was a nothing delivery, and it was a nothing shot from Gill in the end. The ball was wide outside of the off-stump and could have been left, but Gill poked at it, and Jamie Smith took the catch. As we update, Joe Root has dropped Ravindra Jadeja It's all happening here in Manchester.

England's lead has come under 100, which at this point does not mean a lot for both sides as India clearly is going with survive-first approach and England is looking to win. India has fallen behind in this game because of their first innings batting effort. Both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan have got starts but could not convert them into 100s, which they should have done on Day-1 when conditions were very good for batting. After that the bowling was extremely ordinary which was the killer blow and they could never recover from that but this ton from Gill is just giving them a chance to keep this series 2-1.

Shubman Gill drove one through point into the gap to get his fourth century of the series. While the first three are great, this one shows the steel that is in him. India were 0/2 when he walked into the middle, and there have been too many sides in the past that have crumbled from that situation, but the young Indian skipper stood tall. Although he had the support of Rahul, he did his part. This is a gritty knock from him. One thing that has grown leaps and bounds in this series for him is his ability to concentrate for long periods and give that respect to the bowlers when needed, and take it on when he has the chance.

The new ball is taken by England. Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer are the ones who are going to have the first crack with it. Woakes got the end where Stokes was getting the indifferent bounce from, however. Woakes is operating quite wide off-stumps. While both are different styles of bowlers Stokes, who looks to target the stumps and then slants away due to the angle and Woakes, who bowls that nagging length with subtle variations, which works with the new ball. But there is a patch on the wicket which might trouble the batters, and with this new ball, the seam being prominent, the bounce may create even more issues for the batters.

England might take the new ball now. Tricky 45 minutes coming up for India if England decide to take the new ball, that is. Liam Dawson has something to work with as a spinner, especially against left-handers. There is a foot-mark outside the off-stump which Dawson can exploit. But he has to bowl a little slower and give the ball a bit more air to get anything out of it. However, India seems to be playing it safe at this point in time. Shubman Gill is facing Dawson and letting Sundar go away from the strike, who in the previous did play a shot against Dawson, who pitched the ball in rough, so it is clearly playing in their mind.

We have reached the water break. Well, India would have preferred not to lose any wickets, which did not happen. Ben Stokes has been able to get something out of the surface. The moisture in the morning is making the ball misbehave; the odd one is bouncing up, and the odd one is keeping low. With a new ball, it will be even more prominent. The games here tend to start way later than sub-continent; however, there has been a lot to work with for the bowlers through the morning session in this game espically, which is a bit rare on a wicket which has not have much grass on it, and it has been quite a dry summer in England.

Ben Stokes has been by far the best English bowler in this series. Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse, although they have played all the games they have been quite inconsistent with their wicket-taking. Woakes, especially, has not found the wickets easier to bowl on. There has been less and less seam time for him to work with. As per Carse, it has been just inconsistent bowling. However, Stokes, despite the odds, has been able to make something happen, be it with the angle he comes in or the way he nips the ball around or a sudden change in lengths to draw batters into false shots. He has been superb.

One of the Stokes deliveries took and hit thumb of Gill which ricocheted onto his helmet. While the end from which Dawson is bowling, there is not much, but from the end Stokes is operating, he has been able to extract something. The good thing is Gill is still batting in the middle, and he is not injured. There are times when the ball hits fingers after taking off can break them. Rohit Sharma, famously back in the day, had to miss a lot of cricket early in his career during 2011 when he got hit on the finger by a ball that took off. Although it was a white ball game. 

Ben Stokes gets the breakthrough. The ball nips back sharply to KL Rahul and hits the back pad, and the umpire gave it out straight away, and Rahul walked back without reviewing the decision. Stokes was getting that ball back in, and it did seem like a bit of a late moment that did the trick for Rahul. Or else that could have been glided towards square-leg. Stokes was targeting this sort of dismissal against Rahul in every game, especially with that leg-slip, and when he did not have any, it was when KL Rahul eventually got beaten in the end. Sundar has walked into the middle.

Well, Rahul tried to sweep one and missed it, and England appealed for it. Umpire did not give it out, however, Ben Stokes decided to send it upstairs, and there was daylight between bat and ball. England has now lost all their reviews for the innings. As per the pitch, Stokes is getting a nip off the surface that has to do with the overcast conditions and a bit of morning moisture; apart from that, it is docile. Unless something dramatic happens like Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer running through the Indian order with the second new ball, the way this surface is playing, India can get away with the game.

Ben Stokes did not bowl a single over and has started here. He is nipping the ball back into the right-hander, and batters need to be careful with that because he will push that away from the same angle, which is his sucker ball to deceive the batters. Gill drove one in the previous over which was although a half-volley it was done upishly which Pope at short-cover tried to pull off but it went too quickly. Though it was not executed well the ability to bowl that delivery is what can make Stokes extremely dangerous especially there is a bit of natural variation of the surface.

It is Liam Dawson and Ben Stokes who have started the day. We are about 15 overs away from the new ball, which is what England would be hoping to use to open up this game; however, if they can manage to break this partnership before that, it would be a double whammy. Shubman Gill and KL Rahul have played extremely well yesterday, but it is not done yet. India were in a very good position in the MCG Test on the final day; however, in the end, they managed to lose that game. Hence, it is still England's game and a lot will depend on these two.

Well, it's dark, which means bowlers will get some help. However, if it rains, time will be taken off the game, and the chances for India drawing the game will increase. There is enough pedigree in this batting order, technically and temperamentally to pull it off; however, it comes down to pitch and how it will play.

England cricket captain Ben Stokes identifies a key leadership lesson from the Brad Pitt war movie, "Fury." He is particularly struck by a scene where tank commander Don "Wardaddy" Collier tells his men to retreat while he plans to stand and fight alone. For Stokes, this embodies the principle of never asking someone to do something you aren't prepared to do yourself, highlighting his belief in leading by example and demonstrating personal courage. (Read more Sandeep Dwivedi)

“Hopefully we see wicket starts to deteriorate a little more. It started to happen yesterday,” Root told Michael Atherton on Sky Cricket after Saturday’s end of play. “Generally the trend at Old Trafford is it deteriorates a lot quicker on day 4 and 5. So clearly we got bit of runs in the bag.”

“And sometimes conditions can be so extreme that the risk obviously has to go up. Ultimately it’s how you can take the ball on , or whatever is the biggest threat..how can I eliminate it as much as possible and still give myself scoring opportunities. Sometimes that might be by putting a little more pressure on the bowlers or you might have to score more aggressively against spin in sealing conditions and absorb against seamers. Whatever it is. Can I marry my skill to what’s out there in front of me whether it’s the surface or overheads or opposition.,” 

 “I actually went away throughout COVID and I just spoke to Nass quite a bit about it. I said can I just get some footage from Sky to look at mode of dismissals and any trends and see it on different way. And I spoke to the analyst. I saw first 20 balls, and converting 50 into 100 trends. Or anything that I was doing. One thing that I’ve done within that period is actually try and look at the games differently,”

Picture Credits: Sandeep Dwivedi

“You know the numbers they are everywhere aren’t they. You try and put your mind out of it. It’s easy to get caught up in this sorta stuff. But at end of day, you are playing against India in one of the biggest series there is. It’s one of the most crucial days within that series. You got a real opportunity.The sun’s out. To try and get into a position where you can win the Test match,”

England cricket captain Ben Stokes identifies a key leadership lesson from the Brad Pitt war movie, "Fury." He is particularly struck by a scene where tank commander Don "Wardaddy" Collier tells his men to retreat while he plans to stand and fight alone. For Stokes, this embodies the principle of never asking someone to do something you aren't prepared to do yourself, highlighting his belief in leading by example and demonstrating personal courage. (Read more Sandeep Dwivedi)

Hello and welcome to our live blog of Day 5 between India and England. It is hard for India to win the game, but at 0/2 yesterday, it seemed impossible; however, we are in a situation where India can salvage a draw with some resistance. It is going to be thrilling old-fashioned cricket. Do stay with us for all the updates.