England looked set to wrap up victory in the fourth Test at Old Trafford after captain Ben Stokes delivered a brilliant all-round performance, scoring 141 runs and taking five wickets. However, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar produced a defiant, match-saving stand that blunted the English attack and carried India to safety in a gripping finale.
After early wickets left India under pressure, Jadeja and Sundar came together and batted through two entire sessions without being separated. Their unbroken partnership of over 200 runs frustrated England’s bowlers, who were left searching for answers on a wearing pitch. Jadeja’s calm assurance combined with Sundar’s maiden Test century to grind out a draw and keep India’s hopes alive in the series.
Stokes had earlier put England in command with his century and crucial breakthroughs with the ball, becoming the first England captain to register both a hundred and a five-wicket haul in the same match. His energy and leadership were evident throughout, but a dropped catch off Jadeja and questionable field placements in the final session proved costly.
England’s bowlers, who had dominated the series, struggled to find the cutting edge on the final day. The lack of variety and tactical adjustments allowed Jadeja and Sundar to settle in, rotate strike, and steadily chip away at the deficit. By tea, India had added 99 runs without loss in the session, effectively shutting down England’s momentum.
The draw leaves England leading the five-match series 2–1, with one Test to play at The Oval. For India, the resilience shown by Jadeja and Sundar offered a timely reminder of their depth and character, especially with key top-order players out of form. For England, it was a missed opportunity to seal the series early, undone by fine margins and a pair of Indian spinners who refused to yield.
This match will be remembered not just for Stokes’ remarkable all-round effort but also for the grit displayed by India’s lower order. Jadeja and Sundar’s stand turned what looked like certain defeat into a statement of fight, setting up a thrilling series decider to come.