India Fights Back on Day 1 of Old Trafford Test: Sudharsan Shines on Debut, Jadeja and Thakur Steady the Ship
Manchester, England, July 23, 2025 – After a thrilling third Test at Lord’s, the fourth Test between England and India at Old Trafford promised more drama, and Day 1 delivered. Despite ominous weather forecasts and heavy clouds lingering over Manchester, play commenced as scheduled with England captain Ben Stokes winning the toss and electing to bowl first. This decision set the stage for a tense opening day, ultimately seeing India reach 264/4 at stumps, a testament to their resilience after early setbacks.
The series stands poised at 2-1 in favor of England, who are just one win away from sealing the series. However, India, aiming for their first series victory in England since 2007, needs to win both remaining Tests to achieve that historic feat. As Ben Stokes aptly put it before the match, “The quality of cricket has been outstanding. Two teams going toe-to-toe and not very much separating us at the moment.”
Morning Session: A Solid Start Amidst Probing Bowling
India’s innings began with openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal facing a disciplined English bowling attack, particularly a probing spell from Chris Woakes. Woakes, known for his consistent movement and tight lines, kept Jaiswal on his toes, but the young opener held firm. KL Rahul, playing the anchor’s role, calmly navigated the early pressure, ensuring India remained steady.
Despite a tense passage of play where England captain Ben Stokes rallied his team to raise their energy and seize control, India’s top order held strong, reaching 78/0 at Lunch. KL Rahul contributed 40* and Yashasvi Jaiswal 36*, forming a solid, unbeaten opening stand under difficult conditions. Anshul Kamboj, the promising pacer, made his Test debut for India, while Karun Nair was left out of the playing XI. Good news for Indian fans was the inclusion of Jasprit Bumrah, as confirmed by Mohammed Siraj in his pre-match press conference, a crucial addition for this do-or-die encounter.
Post-Lunch Collapse and Rishabh Pant’s Unfortunate Exit
The stability achieved at Lunch quickly dissipated in the second session. Soon after the break, KL Rahul (46) departed, falling short of a well-earned fifty. Yashasvi Jaiswal, shedding his early restraint, switched gears and began to lift the scoring rate, taking on the English bowlers. However, Liam Dawson, returning to Test cricket after an eight-year hiatus, ended his long wait for a Test wicket by removing Jaiswal for a brisk 58.
The departure of Jaiswal brought Shubman Gill to the crease, but his stay was short-lived. A careless leave resulted in his early dismissal, deepening India’s troubles heading into Tea. This wicket triggered an animated roar from Ben Stokes, as England seized control of the session’s momentum. India went into Tea at 149/3, with debutant Sai Sudharsan at 26*.
The drama continued as Rishabh Pant, accelerating the scoring and becoming one of the few Indian batters to notch up 1000 Test runs in England, was unfortunately struck on his right foot. The injury forced him to hobble off the field, retiring hurt mid-innings, a significant blow to India’s batting lineup.
Resilience in the Evening: Jadeja and Thakur Stand Tall
With Pant’s setback, the onus fell on debutant Sai Sudharsan to anchor the innings. He impressed with a patient and composed 61 off 151 deliveries, showcasing excellent temperament for a newcomer, before falling to a sharp delivery from none other than Ben Stokes, who claimed his second wicket of the day.
However, the day concluded on a positive note for India, thanks to a composed and defiant partnership between Ravindra Jadeja (19) and Shardul Thakur (19)**. The duo held firm, navigating the late evening spell from the English bowlers and guiding India to a respectable 264/4 at stumps on Day 1. Their partnership provided much-needed stability and ensured India remained competitive in the Test.
The match promises to be another gripping encounter in this fiercely contested series, with India hoping to capitalize on their late surge on Day 1 to post a formidable first-innings total.
Scorecard: India vs England, 4th Test, Day 1 – Stumps
Toss: England won the toss and elected to bowl.
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester
India 1st Innings:
| Batsman | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal | Bowler |
| KL Rahul | 46 | 98 | 5 | 0 | 46.94 | c Root b Wood | Mark Wood |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 58 | 102 | 8 | 0 | 56.86 | c Foakes b Dawson | Liam Dawson |
| Sai Sudharsan | 61 | 151 | 7 | 0 | 40.40 | b Stokes | Ben Stokes |
| Shubman Gill | 8 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 53.33 | b Stokes | Ben Stokes |
| Rishabh Pant | 53 | 65 | 7 | 1 | 81.54 | Retired Hurt (foot) | – |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 19* | 45 | 2 | 0 | 42.22 | Not Out | – |
| Shardul Thakur | 19* | 38 | 2 | 0 | 50.00 | Not Out | – |
| Extras | 8 | (lb 3, nb 5) | |||||
| Total | 264/4 | (90 Overs) |
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Fall of Wickets: 1-89 (Rahul, 31.4 ov), 2-126 (Jaiswal, 42.2 ov), 3-149 (Gill, 48.1 ov), 4-222 (Sudharsan, 76.5 ov)
England Bowling:
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
| Chris Woakes | 18 | 4 | 51 | 0 | 2.83 |
| Mark Wood | 17 | 3 | 62 | 1 | 3.65 |
| James Anderson | 16 | 5 | 48 | 0 | 3.00 |
| Liam Dawson | 21 | 2 | 72 | 1 | 3.42 |
| Ben Stokes | 18 | 4 | 28 | 2 | 1.56 |
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Day 1 Stumps Summary: India 264/4 (Sai Sudharsan 61, Yashaswal Jaiswal 58, Rishabh Pant 53 retired hurt; Ben Stokes 2/47) vs England.