Image: India battled on the final day to earn a draw against England / © ESPNCricinfo
It was a tense morning on July 27, 2025, as India walked out to bat on the fifth day of the 4th Test at Old Trafford, Manchester. They were at 174/2 after 63 overs in their second innings, with KL Rahul on 87 and Shubman Gill on 78, still 137 runs behind England’s massive first-innings score of 669. England, captained by the dynamic Ben Stokes, needed just six wickets to seal the match and take a 3-1 lead in the five-match series, where they already held a 2-1 advantage. What followed was a day of pure drama, with India’s batsmen, led by the incredible Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja, putting on a batting masterclass to save the game. They kept the series alive for the final Test at The Oval.
The day started with India’s batsmen feeling the heat. England’s bowlers, including Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer, and Ben Stokes, came out firing, knowing they had a golden chance to wrap up the match. The Old Trafford pitch, while still offering a bit of bounce and movement, had settled down, giving India’s batsmen a chance to fight. KL Rahul and Shubman Gill, who had batted so well the previous day, started cautiously, their eyes set on surviving the early overs and reducing England’s lead.
England thought they had a breakthrough in the 69.1st over when Stokes appealed for a wicket against Rahul and called for a review. Umpire Ahsan Raza stood firm, and the review showed the ball wasn’t hitting the stumps, letting Rahul keep going. But England’s persistence paid off in the 70.2nd over when Stokes struck, getting Rahul lbw for 90 off 230 balls, with 8 clean, crisp fours. Rahul’s innings was all heart, holding one end steady while others played their shots, but his dismissal left India at 188/3, still a long way behind.
The pressure was mounting, and England could smell victory. Shubman Gill, who had been rock-solid, reached his century off 228 balls, stroking 12 beautiful fours. His 103, which took 238 balls, was a perfect mix of patience and class, with cover drives and flicks that lit up the ground. But just before lunch, Jofra Archer got him out, caught by wicketkeeper Jamie Smith in the 87.4th over. India were now 222/4, trailing by 88 runs, and England looked ready to run through the rest. But India’s middle order had other ideas, and the stage was set for something special.
India’s second innings turned into an epic tale of grit and glory, a display of batting that will be remembered for years. With two big wickets down, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja came together at 222/4, and what they did next was pure magic. These two all-rounders, both known for stepping up in tough moments, built a partnership that broke England’s hopes and saved the match for India.
By lunch, India had reached 223/4 in 89 overs, with Sundar on 21 and Jadeja just starting. England took the new ball at 80.1 overs, hoping it would swing or seam enough to get wickets, but Sundar and Jadeja were ready. Sundar played with a cool head, picking off singles and defending like his life depended on it. Jadeja, with all his experience, stood tall, watching the ball closely and pouncing on anything short or wide. Together, they made sure India didn’t lose another wicket while slowly chipping away at the deficit.
After lunch, their stand grew into something massive. By the 94.6th over, India had crossed 250 runs, and Sundar and Jadeja had put on 50 runs together in just 92 balls. Sundar reached his fifty off 117 balls, with 2 fours and a towering six, showing he could handle the pressure of a big Test match. Jadeja matched him, bringing up his fifty off 86 balls, with 5 fours, his focus razor-sharp and his shots full of intent.
Their 100-run partnership came up in 184 balls, and by this point, India had wiped out England’s lead and even taken a small one of their own. By tea, India were 322/4 after 118 overs, with Sundar on 57 and Jadeja on 53. Their stand was a lesson in how to play Test cricket, mixing stubborn defence with clever attacking shots. Jadeja, always a showman, brought the crowd to its feet when he smashed a six to reach his century in the 139.4th over, finishing on 107 not out off 182 balls, with 12 fours and that one huge six. The Indian fans went wild, and Jadeja’s sword-twirl celebration was the stuff of dreams.
Sundar wasn’t about to let Jadeja steal all the glory. He reached his first Test century off 206 balls, with 9 fours and a six, a massive moment in his young career. His 101 not out was all about heart, showing he could stand up to the best in the toughest situations. Their 200-run partnership, which took 332 balls, was the heart of India’s innings, guiding them to 425/4 in 143 overs by the end of the day, with a lead of 114 runs. This wasn’t just a batting performance as it was a statement of India’s strength, depth, and refusal to give up.
England’s bowlers gave it everything, but India’s batsmen were just too good. Ben Stokes, who was named Player of the Match for his 5 wickets for 72 runs and 141 runs in the first innings, plus 1 for 33 in the second, led with passion. Chris Woakes bowled tightly, giving away just 67 runs in 23 overs and getting Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan out for ducks in the first over of the day. Jofra Archer, with 1 for 78, got the big wicket of Gill, but he couldn’t keep the pressure on. Brydon Carse (0 for 44) and Liam Dawson, who bowled a marathon 47 overs for 95 runs without a wicket, worked hard but came up empty.
England made a mistake when they reviewed Rahul’s dismissal in the 69th over. The new ball, taken after 80 overs, didn’t bring the wickets they hoped for, as Sundar and Jadeja kept going. England tried part-time bowlers like Joe Root (0 for 68) and Harry Brook (0 for 24), but they couldn’t make a dent. Dawson’s long spell was disciplined, but he didn’t have the luck to get a breakthrough. England left the field frustrated, knowing they’d let a big chance slip through their fingers.
One moment stood out as the day’s defining image, earning the title of TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Day. Late in the match, with India firmly in control and the lead secured, England captain Ben Stokes walked up to Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja, offering a handshake to call the game a draw early.
India had turned the tables, and with time still left, Sundar and Jadeja weren’t having it. They turned down the offer, wanting to keep batting and show England who was boss. Stokes, looking a bit shocked, walked back to his team, and the game went on until the official close. This moment was electric as it showed India’s fire, their refusal to back down, and their pride in fighting till the end.
Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja were the obvious picks for TCNI’s Heroes of the Day. Their unbeaten 200-run stand for the fifth wicket was the soul of India’s fightback. Jadeja’s 107 not out off 185 balls, with 12 fours and a six, was a knock for the history books. His fourth Test century put him alongside India’s greatest all-rounders, and his 4 wickets for 143 runs in England’s first innings showed he was a true match-winner. Jadeja mixed solid defense with flashes of brilliance, like that six to reach his hundred, and his energy fired up the whole team.
Sundar, meanwhile, played an innings that will define his career. His 101 not out off 206 balls, with 9 fours and a six, was his first Test century, and it came in just his fifth Test match. He showed he could handle the biggest stage, staying calm and building his innings step by step. Together, Sundar and Jadeja batted for 332 balls, wearing down England’s bowlers and making sure India walked away with a draw. Their partnership was about more than runs as it was about teamwork, grit, and showing the world what India’s made of.
India’s second innings of 425/4 was a huge achievement, with three batsmen, Gill, Sundar, and Jadeja scoring centuries, putting them in the same league as legends like Sunil Gavaskar and Don Bradman for multiple hundreds in a series. Jadeja’s century made him one of India’s top all-rounders, while Sundar’s hundred showed he’s a star in the making. India’s first innings of 358, with runs from Jaiswal (58), Sudharsan (61), and Rishabh Pant (54), had set the stage, but England’s 669, led by Joe Root’s 150, Stokes’ 141, and Ben Duckett’s 94, gave them a 311-run lead.
England’s aggressive style, led by Stokes, pushed hard, but India’s patient, gritty approach, led by Sundar and Jadeja, stole the show. India’s ability to bat 143 overs in their second innings, coming back from a 311-run deficit, showed their depth and heart. The series, now at 2-1, sets up a massive final Test at The Oval, where India will fight to level things up and England will look to finish the job.