Shubman Gill and KL Rahul delivered a gritty and technically assured batting masterclass on Day 4 of the 4th Test at Old Trafford, dragging India back from the brink after Ben Stokes’ generational all-round performance propelled England into a dominant position.
Facing a mammoth 311-run deficit and early destruction at 0 for 2, the pair weathered both pressure and skill to steer India to stumps without further damage, crafting an unbroken 174-run stand that leaves the Test poised intriguingly heading into Day 5.
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Stokes Joins Legends with Rare Feat
Music echoed across Old Trafford in the morning, and fittingly so — Ben Stokes had turned into Superman. A brutal 141, followed by a five-wicket haul, elevated him into cricketing folklore, joining only Garry Sobers and Jacques Kallis in the elite 7000-runs and 200-wickets club. “Paaaa-pa-pa-pa-paaaaaa…” went the trumpeter, honouring a performance that felt plucked from comic-book pages.
Stokes’s counterattack after nervy moments in the nineties was ferocious. With a whip off his hips to reach the century, he looked skyward, saluting his late father Ged. His late-innings onslaught brought 41 runs off 34 balls, including three sixes — one of which nearly spun him in a full circle after his furious follow-through.
England Post Monumental Score
The home side finished with 669 — their fifth-highest Test total — aided by Brydon Carse’s resilient contribution and a 95-run ninth-wicket partnership. Carse came agonisingly close to registering back-to-back fifties, and every run further exhausted the already fatigued Indian fielders, who had toiled for 943 deliveries.
Woakes Strikes Twice as India Stumble Early
India had only minutes to survive before lunch, but Chris Woakes, full of purpose, made those count. Around the wicket to the left-handed Yashasvi Jaiswal, he induced an edge to Joe Root at slip with a seaming peach. Next in, B Sai Sudharsan fell victim to indecision, poking at a short, wide delivery and gifting England their second breakthrough in six deliveries.
The scoreboard read 0/2 — disaster. But what followed was a lesson in grit and technical resolve.
Gill Recovers From Jitters to Assert Control
Gill’s innings was initially jittery. An inswinging yorker from Jofra Archer nearly shattered his stumps, while his front pad was a repeated target. A miscued drive early on had him wincing — until the ball trickled to the boundary. That unintended stroke may have flipped a switch.
From there, Gill leaned on timing, temperament, and technique. Confident drives, wristy flicks, and clever strike rotation followed. Archer hit his hand, but Gill replied with clean cuts and stoic resilience. On 46, a flashing edge flew to gully — and was shelled by Liam Dawson. The drop proved costly.
Gill surged on, surpassing Virat Kohli’s 655 runs against England in 2016, now within striking distance of Sunil Gavaskar’s 732 — the Indian record for most runs in a Test series by a captain. His pace adjusted too: from 46 off 52 balls, he crawled to 78 off 163 by stumps — the hallmark of a player maturing in the moment.
Rahul’s Retro Technique Anchors the Resistance
KL Rahul played a classic Test innings, absorbing early fire and refusing to flinch. With the ball jagging around, he was beaten multiple times but remained unfazed, even exchanging smiles with Archer after one particularly outrageous delivery.
He began cautiously — 20 off 71 — before gradually expanding his range. Bit by bit, he reaped the rewards, accumulating 67 off the next 139 balls. For the first time in his Test career, Rahul crossed 500 runs in a series. On 36, an inside edge narrowly missed his stumps, but like Gill, he capitalised on fortune to play one of the most valuable knocks of his red-ball career.
England Remain Ahead, but India Hold the Line
Despite England’s superior position — a 137-run cushion and plenty of time left — the fourth day ended with unease in the home camp. Stokes didn’t bowl any of the 63 overs in India’s second innings, possibly signalling concern about his workload. His team remains in front, but the visitors’ fightback ensures Day 5 won’t be a mere formality.
With rain forecast for the morning and a drying pitch by afternoon, the final day promises a grandstand finish — weather permitting.
Brief Scores
England 1st Innings: 669 (Ben Stokes 141, Joe Root 122; Mohammed Siraj 3/128)
India 2nd Innings: 174/2 (Shubman Gill 78*, KL Rahul 87*; Chris Woakes 2/28)
India trail by 137 runs
What to Expect on Day 5
The forecasted showers could provide India a lifeline, but with clear skies likely in the second session, the match remains alive. England will look to exploit the new ball early, while India will hope Gill and Rahul extend their heroics. A draw remains possible, but don’t rule out a dramatic twist in this evolving classic.
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FAQs
What milestone did Ben Stokes achieve in this Test?
Ben Stokes became only the third player in history with over 7000 Test runs and 200 wickets.
How many runs did England score in their first innings?
England posted 669 — their fifth-highest total in Test cricket.
What is the highest individual score from the Indian side so far?
KL Rahul remains unbeaten on 87, closely followed by Shubman Gill on 78*.
Why was Ben Stokes not bowling on Day 4?
Stokes didn’t bowl during India’s innings, possibly due to workload management or precautionary reasons.
What is India’s current situation heading into Day 5?
India is 137 runs behind with eight wickets in hand and hopes of a draw if rain delays England’s charge.
