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Gill-Rahul Partnership Fuels Gritty Indian Comeback After Stokes’ Heroics in Manchester Test
India Steady Ship After Early Collapse, Trail England by 137 Runs at Stumps
In a gripping turn of events on Day 4 of the fourth Test in Manchester, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul mounted a spirited fightback for India with a resolute, unbroken 174-run stand for the third wicket. Their marathon partnership came after England, powered by Ben Stokes’ majestic 141, posted a commanding 669 in their first innings and rocked India with a double blow just before Lunch. But Rahul and Gill absorbed pressure with poise and helped India reach 174/2 at Stumps, still 137 runs behind.
England Dominate Early with Stokes’ Masterclass
Stokes Breaks Century Drought with Grit and Flair
England began the fourth morning with intent, as captain Ben Stokes delivered a phenomenal knock, scoring his first Test century in over two years. Stokes, resuming alongside Liam Dawson, counterattacked even after the early loss of Dawson, who was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah. The English captain brought up his ton with a leg glance off Siraj, a knock filled with elegant strokes and brave aggression.
Stokes’ 141 came off just 174 deliveries and featured authoritative pulls, fierce drives, and strategic footwork against spin. His innings not only extended England’s lead but also placed him in elite company — he became just the third player in Test history to achieve the double of 7000 runs and 200 wickets in the format.
Brydon Carse played a crucial support role, adding 47 brisk runs as England maintained their dominance. India’s bowlers, including Ravindra Jadeja (4/143), toiled without much assistance from the pitch. England’s innings ended just before Lunch, setting up a daunting lead of 311 runs.
➡️ Read our analysis of Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling performance in the Manchester Test
Woakes Strikes Twice Before Lunch to Jolt India
India faced a nightmare start in their second innings, with Chris Woakes producing a sensational over before Lunch. He removed Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan off successive balls — both batters nicking behind. Jaiswal fell to a late outswinger while Sudharsan perished to indecision outside off-stump. India were reeling at 0/2 when Shubman Gill narrowly avoided being Woakes’ third victim on the hat-trick delivery.
Rahul, Gill Script India’s Rebuilding Act
Seamers Test Patience, but India Find Stability
After the interval, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul led a remarkable recovery. Gill brought up his fifty with a flurry of crisp boundaries, including a flowing cover drive and a well-timed uppercut off Jofra Archer. Rahul, on the other hand, adopted a more defensive approach, offering a calming presence at the crease.
England’s pace attack — including Archer, Woakes, and Carse — kept the pressure high, frequently beating the bat and drawing a number of lbw shouts. Archer’s early appeal against Gill was reviewed but stayed not-out. A sharp bouncer struck Gill’s glove, and Rahul faced sharp seam movement, but both survived.
England wasted two reviews during the session, while Dawson dropped a tough chance from Gill in the gully. Despite these chances, India went into Tea at 86/2, having added 86 runs in the session without further damage.
Steely Composure in Final Session from Indian Duo
As Day 4 moved into its final phase, England persisted with spin from Dawson and Joe Root, but the Indian pair remained unflustered. Dawson bowled three maiden overs to begin with, but Rahul and Gill were in no rush. They raised their 100-run stand through patient accumulation and running between the wickets.
Rahul brought up his half-century with a flicked boundary off Woakes. Gill soon followed with another elegant stroke through the leg side. England attempted a barrage of short-pitched bowling from Carse, but neither batter was disturbed. Even without the services of Ben Stokes with the ball, England’s bowlers couldn’t break the stand.
Dawson did manage to sneak in an arm ball that nearly trapped Gill lbw, but an inside edge saved him. The duo steadily moved the partnership past 150, with Gill striking another boundary off Dawson and Rahul picking up two consecutive fours off Woakes to end the day’s play on a high.
England Still Hold Upper Hand, But India Show Fight
Despite the massive first-innings deficit, India’s gritty comeback led by Gill and Rahul kept them in the contest. With only eight wickets in hand and still trailing by 137 runs, they face a daunting task on the final day. However, their resilience, especially after a brutal pre-Lunch spell, has provided a glimmer of hope.
England, though dominant for most of the match, will rue missed chances and reviews. With the pitch still offering some bounce and seam movement, early breakthroughs on Day 5 could turn the tide in their favor again.
➡️ Visit the ICC’s official match centre for complete scorecards and ball-by-ball updates
Brief Scores
India: 358 & 174/2 (KL Rahul 87*, Shubman Gill 78*; Chris Woakes 2-48)
England: 669 (Joe Root 150, Ben Stokes 141; Ravindra Jadeja 4-143)
India trail by 137 runs with 8 wickets in hand
