4th Test Recap: Grit, Edge & Glorious Draw in Manchester
Venue: Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
Dates: July 23-27, 2025
Result: Match Drawn
Series Status: England lead 2-1
After four absorbing days of hard-fought cricket, India and England played out a thrilling draw in the 4th Test at Manchester, with India defying the odds after collapsing to 0/2 in the second innings and eventually posting a remarkable 425/4 in 143 overs.
Summary of Match
| Innings | Score | Top Performers |
| India 1st | 358 all out | Sai Sudharsan – 61 (151), Ben Stokes – 5/72 (24) |
| England 1st | 669 all out | Joe Root – 150 (248), Ben Stokes – 141 (198), Ravindra Jadeja – 4/143 (37.1) |
| India 2nd | 425/4 | Shubman Gill – 103 (238), Ravindra Jadeja – 107* (185), Washington Sundar – 101* (206) |
| Result | Match Drawn |
England’s Dominant First Innings
England posted a mammoth total of 669 runs with Joe Root scoring 150 and Ben Stokes playing his part with 141. Indian bowlers worked hard on flat wicket and Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah shared much of the load.
India’s Fightback
India played with a lot of spirit even though their first innings did not produce enough runs to demonstrate this fortitude. KL Rahul laid a good foundation with a dogged 90 before Shubman Gill (103), Washington Sundar (101), Ravindra Jadeja (107) showed brilliance of application and flair to get India out of hole in the second innings.
India lost both their openers early in the powerplay after Chris Woakes made the initial breakthrough reducing the visitors to 0/2 in 0.5 overs but what came after that was one of the best rearguard acts in recent times. India took 143 overs to stage a remarkable rescue of the Test.
Player of the Match: Ben Stokes
Although the match ended in a tie, Stokes took a stunning five-wicket haul in the first innings of the match and roughed up England to outplay their arch-rivals in their own backyard and that too in front of their home crowd which displayed his exemplary character when playing in a different continent.
Series Scorecard After 4 Tests:
- 1st Test: England won by 5 wickets (Leeds)
- 2nd Test: India won by 336 runs (Birmingham)
- 3rd Test: England won by 22 runs (Lord’s)
- 4th Test: Match drawn (Manchester)
Series Status: England lead 2-1
5th Test Preview: England vs India | Series Decider at The Oval
Venue: Kennington Oval, London
Dates: July 31 – August 4, 2025
Start Time: 10:00 AM GMT / 3:30 PM IST
The moment of truth has arrived. The fifth and final Test of the India-England series kicks off at The Oval, with the series tantalizingly poised at 2-1 in favor of England. For India, it’s a must-win to level the series, while England have a chance to seal the series outright at home.
England’s Squad Shake-Up: Youth over Experience
Ahead of the 5th Test, England have been forced to make wholesale changes due to injuries and form.
Key Changes:
| Out | In |
| Ben Stokes | Jacob Bethell |
| Jofra Archer | Jamie Overton |
| Liam Dawson | Josh Tongue |
| Brydon Carse | Gus Atkinson |
England’s Playing XI for the 5th Test (Confirmed):
- Zak Crawley
- Ben Duckett
- Ollie Pope (C)
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook
- Jacob Bethell
- Jamie Smith (WK)
- Chris Woakes
- Gus Atkinson
- Jamie Overton
- Josh Tongue
With Stokes out, Ollie Pope leads a young side. Jamie Smith continues as wicketkeeper, and debutant Jacob Bethell is expected to play a spin-allrounder role.
India’s Playing XI for the 5th Test (Expected):
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- KL Rahul
- Sai Sudharsan
- Shubman Gill (C)
- Dhruv Jurel (WK)
- Washington Sundar
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Anshul Kamboj
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Arshdeep Singh
- Mohammed Siraj
While India have not officially announced their XI, barring any last-minute injuries, they are likely to retain the core lineup from the 4th Test. They have included Arshdeep Singh to make his debut in this test match.
Key Battles to Watch
Joe Root vs Ravindra Jadeja
- Root has already scored 403 runs in the series.
- Jadeja picked crucial wickets and scored a ton in the last match.
- A clash of technical prowess vs left-arm guile.
Shubman Gill vs England Pacers
- Shubman Gill has been the leading run-scorer of the series with 722 runs.
- With Archer rested, England’s new pace trio (Atkinson, Overton, Tongue) will test his patience.
Bumrah & Siraj vs England’s Top Order
- Bumrah and Siraj (14 wickets each in this series) have consistently troubled Crawley and Duckett.
- Both will aim to capitalize on overcast conditions at The Oval.
Match Conditions and Pitch Report
- Pitch: Has a history of being a good batting pitch, but aids spinners on Day 4 and 5.
- Weather: The weather forecast is that it will be dry in London throughout the five days, with passing showers on Day 3.
What is on the line?
- England: A win puts the series at 3-1, and cements reign at home.
- In the case of India: In the event of a win, it will bring about a 2-2 draw that will be a complete turnaround considering that India was down twice.
- WTC Points: The match is between – Winner of this test match is brawling over crucial ICC World Test Championship (2025-27 cycle) points.
Stats So Far
- Most Runs in the Series: Shubman Gill (722 runs)
- Most Wickets in the Series: Ben Stokes (17 wickets)
Draw in Manchester Sets Up Oval Thriller: Who Will Seal the Series?
Today’s series finale by no means is a mere match, but the fight of will, redemption, and upcoming supernova. Based on the consistency of Pope to the heroism of Gill, everyone is likely to observe another classic in the making at The Oval.
Stay tuned to Sportspedia Zone for ball-by-ball updates, expert analysis, and post-match reports!
Baishali Karmakar 
Tanya Singh
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