Day 1 Highlights India vs England (4th Test, Manchester – July 23, 2025)
- England, led by Ben Stokes, won the toss and opted to bowl—aiming to break Old Trafford’s historical trend.
- India closed at 264/4, with key innings:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal: 58
- KL Rahul: 46
- Sai Sudharsan: maiden Test fifty (61)
- Shubman Gill, India’s Test captain, fell lbw for 12—raising concerns about his consistency
- Rishabh Pant, aggressive and surpassing 1,000 away Test runs in England, was forced to retire hurt after a freak foot injury during a reverse sweep—taken off on an ambulance cart
- Historic stat: India fielded five left-handed batters in a single Test XI for the first time in their 592-match history—a novel strategic move
- England’s attack fight back in afternoon: Woakes, Dawson (back after 8 years), Stokes—critical wickets to shift momentum
- Stokes set a personal record with 14 overs on Day 1, taking his series total to 119 overs—more than any of his previous Test series
Tactical Snapshot
- Batting first under overcast skies, India opted for an extra seamer in Shardul Thakur—intending to exploit swing conditions
- England’s bowlers executed early breakthroughs, frustrating India’s top order with disciplined lines.
- India’s middle order looks set for a big session tomorrow with Jadeja and Thakur unbeaten at stumps, hopeful to set a competitive total.
What to Watch on Day 2
- Rishabh Pant’s fitness update will be critical—his presence adds firepower to India’s batting.
- Gill’s middle-order form needs resurgence to stabilize the innings.
- England’s second new ball spell: Will Stokes and company break through as conditions shift?
- Series implications: A win for England seals the trophy; India must fight to force a decider.
Player Focus
- Shubman Gill: Overshadowed captaincy heroics, now needs concrete scores—just 12 off three innings
- Rishabh Pant: The aggressive keeper-batsman’s injury disrupts India’s momentum—tests depth
- Yashasvi Jaiswal & Sai Sudharsan: Left-handers providing a fresh counterbalance to England’s attack.
- Ben Stokes: A leader and pace spearhead, his spell could define the Old Trafford battle
What’s Next?
India needs at least 250+ runs on Day 2 to avoid batting again and keep series alive. With momentum swinging, the match could pivot on pant’s recovery or a big session from Jadeja/Thakur. Meanwhile, England aims to capitalize and wrap up the series with a home victory.
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Author: Nitin mittal
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