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Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja & Washington Sundar Rescue India in Incredible Fourth Test Draw vs England

At Old Trafford, Manchester, India produced one of their most extraordinary match‑saving efforts to draw the fourth Test against England in the ongoing Anderson‑Tendulkar Trophy, thanks to centuries by captain Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar. Facing a daunting 311‑run deficit and being reduced to 0/2 in their second innings, India battled through 143 overs, sliding home to 425/4, and denying England a series‑winning victory Cricbuzz+13Reuters+13Al Jazeera+13 The Times of India+2The Times+2The Times of India+2 The Tribune+2The Guardian+2The Indian Express+2 The Tribune+1Firstpost+1.

The draw keeps the series poised at 2‑1 in England’s favour with one final Test at The Oval. What unfolded in Manchester was less a draw and more a triumphant survival—one that showcased batting depth, mental toughness, and strategic steel Al Jazeera.

Setting the Scene: England’s Dominance & India in Trouble

England dominated early:

First innings: England amassed a colossal 669, their fifth‑highest Test total, powered by Joe Root’s 150 and Ben Stokes’s 141, plus a five‑wicket haul from Stokes with the ball The Tribune.
India responded with 358, trailing by 311 runs.
On Day 5, India collapsed to 0/2, setting the stage for a dramatic rearguard action.

England then required just one more breakthrough, but India defied them by batting through more than five sessions, losing only two further wickets to close at 425/4 The Times of India+6Reuters+6The Guardian+6 Daily Telegraph+5The Guardian+5Wisden+5.

Shubman Gill: Captain’s Knock Under Pressure

A Historic Fourth Century in the Series

Gill’s composed century (103) on the final day was his fourth in the series, and made him the first Indian captain to score four Test tons in a single away series. He finished with 722 + Test runs in the England tour—a record for India Bhaskar English Wikipedia.

He batted through an early storm, partnering with KL Rahul in a marathon 188‑run stand that allowed India to overcome initial collapse and inch closer to safety Firstpost+1Pratidin+1.

Key Contributions

Resumed Day 5 at 78, Rahul was on 87**.
Gill fell just before lunch after 238 balls, but his innings anchored India’s resistance The Times+15Reuters+15India TV News+15 Wisden+9Cricbuzz+9Wikipedia+9.

KL Rahul: The Silent Backbone

Though not reaching a ton, KL Rahul’s 90 was critical. He shepherded the innings alongside Gill, laying a firm foundation for the later heroics of Jadeja and Sundar Pratidin Cricbuzz.

Their partnership spanned over 417 balls, providing India the platform to challenge England’s dominance Pratidin+1Bhaskar English+1.

Ravindra Jadeja & Washington Sundar: The Unbeaten Century Partnership

A Stand for the Ages

After Gill’s dismissal and Rahul’s fall, Jadeja (107)* joined Washington Sundar (101)* in what became a defining rearguard. They put on an unbeaten 203-run partnership for the fifth wicket, batting through second session and afternoon to bat England out of the game India TV News+1The Guardian+1.

This was the first time India had three centurions in the second innings of a Test. It also ranks among the best match‑saving stands in modern Test cricket India TV News.

Jadeja’s Innings (107* off 185):

12 fours and 1 six
Second Test ton in England, fifth overall in Tests Cricbuzz+7The Indian Express+7Firstpost+7

Jadeja’s sweep for six and calm touch in the middle phase frustrated England’s attack and turned the tide Reddit+15The Indian Express+15Reddit+15.

Sundar’s Maiden Test Ton (101* off 206):

9 fours and 1 six
Completed with a composed single; India accepted draw only once both had centuries Reuters+15The Indian Express+15Daily Telegraph+15.

England offered to shake hands with 15 overs remaining, but Jadeja and Sundar refused, batting on until both milestones were reached—drawing criticism and frustration from England but igniting admiration for India’s spirit India TV News+3Bhaskar English+3The Times of India+3.

Shubman Gill defended the stance: “A Test hundred is a Test hundred—they deserved that moment” Bhaskar English+7Wisden+7The Times of India+7.

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England’s Frustration & Controversy

England deployed aggressive tactics in the hope of a quick finish—Ben Stokes bowled part-time spinner Harry Brook, mocked Jadeja, and even attempted to stop the match early during Sundar’s century Daily Telegraph.

Stokes himself acknowledged the resilience of India’s batters, calling it a “hard-fought Test”, though expressing frustration at missed chances and the late refusal of a handshake & early exit The Guardian Reuters The Times.

Former players like Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton defended India’s decision to bat on, criticizing England’s conduct in the dying moments Daily Telegraph.

Records & Milestones Achieved

India posted 425/4 in second innings, batting 143 overs after being 0/2—one of few instances in Test history where a team fended off defeat from such a giant deficit The Guardian+4Cricbuzz+4Pratidin+4.
Three centurions in second innings for India for the first time (Gill, Jadeja, Sundar) The Guardian+5India TV News+5The Tribune+5.
Gill became the top Indian run‑scorer on tour with 722 runs, and fourth ton in series—matching legends in captaincy centuries abroad Bhaskar English.
Jadeja passed 1,000 runs and 30 wickets on foreign tours—third Indian ever after Rhodes & Sobers Bhaskar English.
The Jadeja‑Sundar stand ranks among the great modern match‑saving performances Wisden+1Firstpost+1.

Tactical & Psychological Takeaways

India’s Side:

Depth in batting—lower-order resilience saved the match.
Adaptability: Adjusted intelligently to fifth‑day surface offering sporadic bounce and spin.
Mental strength: Calm under pressure; refusal to collapse when victory was unlikely.

England’s Lessons:

Missed opportunities: Dropped catches e.g., Root dropping Gill; ineffective medium bowling in latter sessions.
Sportsmanship question: Actions in final hours drew criticism domestically and abroad.
Series strategy: England must avoid losing at The Oval to secure series win—India heads there with confidence of protagonist.

Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar questioned Stokes’s timing of declaration, suggesting that Gill should have pushed for earlier closure, implying England may have left wickets unexploited Reuters+15The Guardian+15Wisden+15 India TV News+10The Tribune+10The Times+10.

What This Draw Means for India

The series continues at 2‑1 in England’s favour, making the fifth Test at The Oval (starting Thursday) the decider.
India heads into the finale with boosted morale: this draw feels like a win, especially after such dire situation.
It highlights the importance of backups like Sundar, elevating India’s lower order reliability.
For England, the match exposed vulnerabilities in finishing off games; they must regroup quickly.

Fan & Expert Praise

Social media brimmed with admiration:

England fans had little to cheer on Day 5 as India’s resilience stunned the home crowd.
Commentators called it “a moral victory for the tourists” The Guardian+3Reuters+3Al Jazeera+3 The Times.
Analysts described the Jadeja‑Sundar rescue as among the finest match‑saving efforts in modern cricket The Guardian+2Wisden+2Firstpost+2.

Shubman Gill’s leadership drew positive reviews as he backed his players to earn their tons, even at the cost of short‑term friction The Times of India.

Conclusion: A Draw That Echoed Like Victory

At Old Trafford, India refused to be buried. Gill’s captain’s knock, Rahul’s dogged resilience, and the historic unbeaten centuries by Jadeja and Sundar turned near‑defeat into a moment that will echo in Test cricket lore. With the series alive and spirits soaring, India now heads to The Oval with real momentum.

England dominated large parts but were outlasted by sheer character. For India, this draw is not just about salvaging a Test—it’s about asserting identity, resilience, and a belief that even from the brink, they will fight.