India pulled off a remarkable draw in the 4th Test against England at Old Trafford, led by heroics from Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar. Sachin Tendulkar and Monty Panesar hailed India’s fightback, keeping the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series alive ahead of the final Test at The Oval.
In a thrilling fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Old Trafford, Manchester, India delivered a gritty performance to secure a dramatic draw against England. After being reduced to 0/2 in their second innings and trailing by a daunting 311 runs, the visitors produced a heroic rearguard action led by Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar.
India’s fightback began with a resilient century from captain Shubman Gill, who scored a composed 103 under immense pressure. He was ably supported by KL Rahul, who chipped in with a vital 90. However, the most remarkable phase of the innings came from the lower order, as Ravindra Jadeja (107*) and Washington Sundar (100*) formed a formidable unbeaten partnership to deny England a likely win.
Legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was among the many who praised the team’s tenacity. Taking to social media, he wrote, “When it comes to India-England, Old Trafford is known for keeping the series alive. Congratulations, Team India, on a fantastic comeback.” He also hailed the efforts of key performers, saying, “@klrahul, @ShubmanGill, @imjadeja, and @Sundarwashi5 showed great character and fighting spirit. Good luck for the final Test. Go India!”
Skipper Shubman Gill, whose leadership and form have drawn widespread acclaim, addressed the media after the match. “I am extremely pleased with the batting. Under pressure the last couple of days, the way we responded after losing two early wickets was a very brave effort,” he said. Highlighting the mindset during the comeback, Gill added, “You just want to play ball by ball, as every ball is an event, and take the game as deep as possible.”
Gill’s second-innings hundred was his fourth of the series and ninth in Test cricket. The 25-year-old has been in remarkable form, tying Don Bradman’s record for most centuries by a captain in a Test series and becoming the first player to hit four hundreds in his debut series as captain.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan lauded the captain’s efforts, posting on X (formerly Twitter): “Proper captain’s knock from Shubman Gill. Despite all the criticism, he has come into his own on this English tour.”
In contrast, India suffered a setback in the form of Rishabh Pant’s injury. The vice-captain was ruled out for the remainder of the series after sustaining a toe fracture from a Chris Woakes yorker in the first innings. Former England spinner Monty Panesar, however, opined that India’s all-rounders have stepped up in Pant’s absence.
“Maybe Rishabh Pant’s impact isn’t as much on the Indian team as the all-rounders, seeing them perform so well, which is a bigger plus,” Panesar said. He credited India’s lower order for pulling off an unexpected draw and believes the momentum will carry into the final Test.
Panesar also weighed in on the selection dilemma regarding Jasprit Bumrah, whose availability for the fifth Test at The Oval remains uncertain. “Arshdeep Singh needs to be in the team at some point because of the angle he creates. I think that could be the difference,” he remarked, suggesting the left-arm seamer’s inclusion could be crucial.
With the final Test set to begin on July 31 at The Oval in London, both teams are gearing up for a potentially epic series decider. Panesar believes the match is finely poised: “Both teams are really balanced. It’s going to be another great, great Test match.”
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India’s ability to bounce back from adversity has not only kept the series alive but also ignited hopes of a historic comeback. The fight at Old Trafford was more than just about numbers—it was about pride, determination, and belief. As both sides head to The Oval, cricket fans around the world are bracing for a riveting finale.
