England vs India 4th Test Day 1 Match Report: India Resilient Amid Setbacks as Pant Injury Overshadows Sudharsan’s Gritty Fifty

The opening day of the England vs India 4th Test at Old Trafford was a captivating affair filled with moments of class, grit, and heartbreak. India finished at 264/4 at Stumps, led by solid half-centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan.

However, the late-session injury to Rishabh Pant—helped off the ground with a swollen right foot—cast a long shadow over what was otherwise a promising start. With India seeking to level the series, Day 1 served up an evenly poised contest where both sides landed critical blows.

Early Session: Steady Start Amid Testing Spells

Ben Stokes, maintaining his unbeaten toss record this series, chose to field under overcast skies. England made a single change—Liam Dawson came in for Shoaib Bashir—while India responded with three tweaks: Shardul Thakur returned, Sudharsan was handed a debut, and Anshul Khamboj received his maiden Test cap.

The opening hour was a fascinating duel. Chris Woakes immediately troubled Yashasvi Jaiswal, finding the edge twice in his opening over, though luck favored the Indian left-hander as both fell short of the slips. Jofra Archer bowled with pace and accuracy, while Brydon Carse tested both batters with bounce and movement.

Jaiswal, initially cautious, soon broke free. A driven boundary off Woakes despite a broken bat handle showed his growing assurance. The highlight came when he upper-cut Stokes for six, lifting India’s energy just before Lunch. India headed into the break at 80 without loss, a rarity in this series.

Middle Session: England Roar Back with Timely Breakthroughs

The post-lunch period saw England claw their way back into the game. Woakes struck first, removing KL Rahul for 46 as he edged a back-foot punch to third slip. The dismissal ended India’s best opening partnership of the series—worth 94 runs.

Jaiswal carried on and notched up his half-century, also crossing 1000 Test runs against England—becoming the joint second-fastest Indian to do so. But Dawson, in his first over, had him caught at slip with a sharp turner, halting his charge on 58.

Shubman Gill failed to make a mark. Despite a couple of crisp boundaries, his misjudged leave against Stokes cost him his wicket and a review. At 149/3 at Tea, England were firmly back in the game.

Evening Phase: Pant’s Injury Sours India’s Gains

Sai Sudharsan, dropped by Jamie Smith earlier, regrouped well with Rishabh Pant. The duo tackled England’s short-ball ploy with controlled aggression. Sudharsan confidently pulled Archer while Pant decided to accelerate, showcasing his trademark flair. He slog-swept Archer and dispatched Carse for six over long-on, reaching 1000 Test runs in England in style.

Pant sliced one off the outer half of the bat for a four off Dawson before surviving an England review when he was struck on the boot by Woakes attempting a reverse-sweep.

But the turning point came late in the session. Pant, visibly in discomfort, suffered a severe blow on his right foot and had to be taken off in a medical cart. The moment shocked both camps, as his aggressive approach was shaping the innings alongside Sudharsan.

Unfazed, Sudharsan brought up his maiden Test fifty with a stylish cover drive off Joe Root. Ravindra Jadeja supported him, opening his account with a streaky edge for four and then played a couple of crisp strokes down the ground.

Stokes persisted with his short-ball strategy and got his reward—Sudharsan, on 61, miscued a pull to fine leg, handing the England captain his second wicket of the day. Thakur came out next and quickly made an impact with a boundary off Stokes.

With light deteriorating, Jadeja raised concerns with the umpires. England stuck with spin despite the new ball being due. The pair added crucial runs before poor light brought play to an end, with India scoring 115 in the final session.

Brief Scores

India 264/4 in 86.3 overs

Sai Sudharsan 61, Yashasvi Jaiswal 58, KL Rahul 46
Ben Stokes 2/47, Chris Woakes 1/43, Liam Dawson 1/45
vs England

Read More: Shubman Gill Calls Out England’s Tactics at Lord’s: “Openers Were 90 Seconds Late”

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