Steady Start for India as Top Order Shines on Day 1 in Manchester
India ended Day 1 at 264/4 in 83 overs after being put into bat by England. Yashasvi Jaiswal (58), KL Rahul (46), and Sai Sudharsan (61) led the scoring, while Pant retired hurt on 37 at 212/3. Stokes picked up two wickets. Jadeja (19*) and Thakur (19*) remained unbeaten at stumps.
With the series poised at 2-1 in England’s favour, the fourth Test of India’s tour of England began on July 23, 2025, at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester. England, captained by Ben Stokes, won the toss and chose to bowl, hoping to exploit cloudy skies and a pitch known for its pace and bounce. India, led by Shubman Gill, were eager to draw level after a painful 22-run defeat in the third Test at Lord’s. Despite missing key players like Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, and Akash Deep due to injuries, India battled hard, finishing Day 1 at 264 for 4 in 83 overs, with a run rate of 3.18.
India’s Positive Start to the Day
The day saw strong batting from India’s top order, a dramatic injury to Rishabh Pant, and tough conditions that challenged both teams’ strategies, setting up an exciting contest.
Morning Session: A Steady Start for India
India’s innings started cautiously as openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul faced a disciplined England attack led by Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer. By the drinks break in the 14th over, India were 42 for no loss, with Rahul looking confident at 27 off 47 balls, stroking a beautiful cover drive off Brydon Carse, while Jaiswal was on 13 off 37, playing with restraint.
Lunch on Day 1 of the Manchester Test! #TeamIndia off to a solid start, courtesy KL Rahul (40*) & Yashasvi Jaiswal (36*) 👍
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 23, 2025
Stay tuned for second session! ⌛️
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/L1EVgGtx3a#ENGvIND | @klrahul | @ybj_19 pic.twitter.com/kSz6KV4X4z
The pair brought up India’s 50 in 17.4 overs, their 50-run stand coming off 106 balls with just 2 extras. Rahul’s elegant drives, especially through the off-side, kept England at bay, while Jaiswal grew bolder, launching a stunning six off Archer in the 20th over to assert himself. By lunch, India reached 78 for no loss in 26 overs, with Jaiswal on 36 and Rahul on 40. The session showcased India’s patience, as they weathered the new ball and frustrated England’s bowlers, who struggled to make breakthroughs despite favourable conditions.
The second session saw England claw their way back, breaking the opening partnership and taking key wickets. In the 30th over, Woakes found the edge of Rahul’s bat, dismissing him for a polished 46 off 98 balls, caught by Zak Crawley at second slip. India were 94 for 1, and Sai Sudharsan, in only his second Test, joined Jaiswal. Replacing the injured Nitish Reddy, Sudharsan showed grit but had a nervy moment when he nicked a ball down the leg side off Carse, only for keeper Jamie Smith to drop a simple catch.
Jaiswal pressed on, reaching his fifty off 96 balls with nine fours and a six, mixing caution with flair. His crisp cover drive off Stokes was a highlight, but England struck back in the 40th over through Liam Dawson, returning to Tests after eight years. Jaiswal, trying to dominate the spinner, lofted a shot to Harry Brook, falling for 58 off 107 balls, leaving India at 120 for 2. Dawson’s tight spell, conceding just 45 runs in 15 overs, gave England control.
Yashasvi Jaiswal continues his impressive run with the bat ✨
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 23, 2025
He gets to his 12th Test half-century 👏👏
💯 up for #TeamIndia
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/L1EVgGu4SI#ENGvIND | @ybj_19 pic.twitter.com/zUi3A5KD5c
Shubman Gill, India’s captain, looked uncomfortable and fell in the 49th over, trapped lbw by Stokes for 12 off 23 balls. India’s review failed, and at tea, they were 149 for 3 in 52 overs, with Sudharsan on 26 and Rishabh Pant on 3. The session saw India add 71 runs but lose three big wickets, giving England a slight advantage as they made the most of Dawson’s spin and the cloudy conditions.
The final session was packed with drama, featuring Pant’s aggressive batting, a painful injury, and India’s fight to stay in control. Sudharsan and Pant built a vital 50-run partnership for the fourth wicket in 70 balls, taking India past 150 in 52.2 overs. Pant, known for his bold strokeplay, took the attack to England, especially Archer. In a cheeky moment, he swept a length ball from Archer for four through backward square leg, leaving the bowler shaking his head. Pant’s 37 off 48 balls, with two fours and a six, brought a strike rate of 77.08, shifting the momentum.
Tea on Day 1 of the 4th #ENGvIND Test! #TeamIndia move to 149/3, with Sai Sudharsan (26*) and vice-captain Rishabh Pant (3*) in the middle!
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 23, 2025
Third & final session of the Day to commence 🔜
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/L1EVgGu4SI @sais_1509 | @RishabhPant17 pic.twitter.com/ADjEP7VLF6
Disaster struck in the 68th over when Pant, attempting a reverse sweep off Woakes, inside-edged the ball onto his right foot. The blow left him in agony, and he collapsed, unable to continue. Retiring hurt at 37, with India at 212 for 3, Pant was helped off in a golf-style buggy and later taken by ambulance for checks, raising fears about his availability. Sudharsan, meanwhile, anchored the innings, reaching his fifty off 134 balls with six fours, showing immense patience. He survived another scare when Smith dropped a catch off Carse down the leg side.
Sudharsan’s stubborn 61 off 151 balls ended in the 74th over when Stokes had him caught by Carse, leaving India at 235 for 4. Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur stepped up, guiding India to 264 for 4 by stumps. Jadeja, unbeaten on 19 off 37 balls, played a stylish lofted drive off Dawson in the 82nd over, while Thakur, also 19 not out off 36, held firm. Their unbroken 29-run stand over 9 overs kept India steady, with a run rate of 2.90 in the last 10 overs.
Stumps on the opening day of the 4th Test in Manchester!
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 23, 2025
115 runs in the final session as #TeamIndia reach 264/4 at the end of Day 1.
Join us tomorrow for Day 2 Action 🏟️
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/L1EVgGu4SI#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/1KcCixeW7Q
England’s bowlers, led by Stokes and Woakes, showed grit but lacked consistency. Woakes was the standout, taking 1 for 43 in 17 overs at an economy of 2.52, dismissing Rahul with a peach of a delivery. Stokes led from the front, claiming 2 for 47 in 14 overs, removing Gill and Sudharsan with sharp bowling. Dawson proved a revelation, conceding 45 runs in 15 overs and dismissing Jaiswal, offering England control.
Archer, despite his pace and bounce, went wicketless, giving away 44 runs in 16 overs. Carse was costly, leaking 60 runs in 16 overs, while Joe Root’s part-time spin conceded 19 runs in 5 overs without a wicket. With light fading, England delayed the second new ball, and umpires ruled pace bowling unsuitable, allowing Dawson to bowl through to stumps.
TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Day
After a sparkling performance on Day 1, Rishabh Pant delivered the game’s defining moment. At 212 for 3 in the 68th over, Pant was on 37 off 48 balls, having smashed two fours and a six. His bold sweep off Archer had swung momentum India’s way, but disaster struck when he tried a reverse sweep off Woakes.
RISHABH PANT CANT WALK – A BIG BLOW FOR INDIA.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 23, 2025
– Wishing him a speedy recovery. pic.twitter.com/MsxCpJewm0
The ball hit his bat and crashed into his right foot, leaving him in severe pain. Collapsing on the pitch, Pant retired hurt and was taken off in a golf-style buggy, later leaving in an ambulance for medical checks. This heart-stopping moment, TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Day, left India shaken and raised doubts about Pant’s return.
TCNI’s Hero of the Day
The innings that defined India’s fight came from Sai Sudharsan, earning him TCNI’s Hero of the Day. In just his second Test, the 23-year-old scored a dogged 61 off 151 balls, anchoring India to 264 for 4 in 83 overs. Entering at 94 for 1 after Rahul’s exit, Sudharsan showed nerves of steel against England’s probing attack.
Maiden Test FIFTY for Sai Sudharsan! 👏 👏
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 23, 2025
A solid knock from the #TeamIndia left-handed batter in Manchester 💪
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/L1EVgGtx3a#ENGvIND | @sais_1509 pic.twitter.com/cH8OgpN4eA
His seven fours, including a crisp cover drive, blended caution and skill, surviving drops by Smith off Carse. His 50-run stand with Pant in 70 balls steadied India after Jaiswal and Gill fell. Reaching his fifty off 134 balls, Sudharsan’s grit shone on a lively pitch. Though dismissed by Stokes at 235 for 4, his resolute knock kept India in a strong position, marking him as a star in the making.
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