England vs India 4th Test Day 5 Highlights: Stokes Strikes, Gill Rescues as Match Ends in Dramatic Draw

England vs India 4th Test Day 5 recap: England Dominate as India Show Grit in Manchester

The fifth day of the 4th Test match between India and England at Manchester was as dramatic as fans had hoped. England started Day 5 full of confidence and determination, making life tough for the visiting Indian side. From the very beginning of the day, England’s bowlers were on top, and India had to fight for every single run.

England Strike Early on Day 5

The morning session went precisely the way England wanted. Ben Stokes, the English captain, showed remarkable courage as he took to the field despite dealing with pain. His perseverance paid off when he dismissed KL Rahul with a delivery that stayed low—giving England an early breakthrough and intensifying pressure on the Indian batters. The loss of Rahul was a big blow, as he had played with great patience until then.

Soon after, Shubman Gill, who had been the mainstay of the Indian batting lineup throughout the series, lost his concentration. Just after scoring his fourth century in the series—a fantastic achievement—Gill was dismissed, leaving India in a spot of trouble before lunch. At that stage, India was still trailing by 88 runs and had only six wickets left. The dream of saving the match started to look much more difficult.

Gill and Rahul’s Battling Partnership Gave India Hope

Before the drama on Day 5, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul had given Indian fans plenty of reasons to hope. Coming into the final day, the two had put together an amazing 174-run partnership that kept England from making swift progress. Their teamwork on Day 4 had been especially outstanding, particularly since India was in danger after losing both openers—Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan—in the very first over.

Many experts and fans thought that the match might finish inside four days as India looked in big trouble. Yet, Gill and Rahul stood up to the challenge, showing true mental strength and determination to push the game into a fifth day. Both batters were inching towards centuries, but the real target was to ensure India did not lose the match outright. They defended, attacked when needed, and most importantly, used up valuable time.

India’s Battle Against the Odds

At the end of Day 4, India was still 174/2—trailing England by 137 runs. But thanks to the big partnership, England’s hopes of an easy win were put on hold. The weather forecast suggested rain could arrive on Sunday, which meant time was running short for England to bowl India out. Suddenly, the idea of a draw became a real lifeline for India and a worry for England.

Earlier in India’s second innings, Chris Woakes had produced a fiery spell, removing two batsmen with consecutive deliveries in the very first over. This left India struggling at 0 for 2 before lunch on Day 4. The situation was tense, but Gill and Rahul brought calm to the dressing room by battling through the tough period.

Despite the difficult start, India slowly began to find some rhythm. The partnership sparkled, and while victory was always a long shot, the prospect of a draw emerged as a real possibility. Securing a draw—after being under so much pressure—would be seen as a moral win for India, especially given England’s dominance in the match.

Stokes Shines, Root Breaks Records

A big reason for England’s commanding position was their huge first-innings total. Joe Root was the star, making a magnificent 150 to move up to second place in the list of all-time Test run-scorers. Ben Stokes, too, was electric with the bat, scoring his first century since the 2023 Lord’s Ashes Test. It was a timely comeback for the England captain, who also picked up five wickets in India’s first innings before his cramps stopped him from bowling more on Day 5.

England’s score in Manchester was their fifth-highest in the history of Test cricket, and it came at a perfect time, with the series hanging in the balance.

Gill’s Return to Form Inspires India

One positive for India in this match was the return to form of Shubman Gill. After starting the series on fire as captain with three centuries, he had failed in the next few innings. But his gritty hundred in Manchester silenced his critics and proved he still has a big part to play for India in the future.

A Test Full of Character

By the end of Day 5, England remained firmly in control, and India’s hopes depended on the weather and tough batting. While the match result leaned heavily towards England, the resilience shown by Gill, Rahul, and the Indian batting order offered fans a glimmer of pride.

This 4th Test in Manchester was a showcase of skill, courage, and determination. Even facing a strong England side, India found a way to fight back—reminding us why Test cricket remains one of the most exciting formats of the sport.

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