Shubman Gill and KL Rahul steady ship for India after Ben Stokes ends Test century drought for England at Old Trafford
By Tom Masters
Published 26/07/2025 at 21:17 GMT+1
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India captain Shubman Gill and opener KL Rahul both hit half centuries in an unbeaten 174-run stand on the fourth day at Old Trafford, after Ben Stokes ended his two-year century drought with an impressive 141. England led by 311 when eventually all out for 669, and appeared in total control when Chris Woakes struck twice to remove Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan in consecutive balls.
Stokes: There was 'always going to be a moment' when England and India 'clashed'
Video credit: TNT Sports
India captain Shubman Gill and opener KL Rahul both hit half centuries in an unbeaten 174-run stand to keep the fourth Test with England in the balance at Old Trafford.
England - leading 2-1 in the series - appeared in complete control after Ben Stokes scored his first hundred in Test cricket for two years to help the hosts to a lead of 311 shortly before lunch on day four.
Chris Woakes then struck twice in two balls in the first over of India’s innings to remove Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan for ducks.
India were on 1-2 at lunch before the pair of Gill and Rahul steadied the ship, leaving India trailing by 137 runs heading into the fifth day, with the series on the line.
Stokes began the day on 77, chasing a first Test century since his 155 against Australia at Lord’s two years ago, with England already ahead by 186 runs.
He lost partner Liam Dawson on 26, when he was bowled by Jasprit Bumrah, before Brydon Carse came to the wicket, fresh from his maiden Test 50 at Lord’s.
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Stokes was able to reach his 14th Test century, and third at Old Trafford, before midday, and with England 235 runs ahead, the captain and Carse quickly accelerated the scoring.
Stokes was caught on 141 when looking to hit Ravi Jadeja over long off again, having hit him for six the ball before, and Carse was Jadeja’s fourth victim shortly after, as he looked to reach consecutive 50s with a big heave over square leg.
England’s 669 was the highest team total at Old Trafford in Test cricket, per Cricinfo, and with 13 minutes before lunch, India came in under serious pressure.
That pressure quickly mounted when Woakes dismissed first Jaiswal, with Joe Root superbly taking the catch on the rebound after initially spilling it, and then Sudharsan, who got caught trying to leave the ball and edged it to Harry Brook at second slip.
Gill came to the crease in extremely difficult circumstances, inside the first over of the India innings, with a significant England victory seemingly inbound.
He managed to survive the initial onslaught with Rahul to get in at 1-2 at lunch, still trailing by 310.
England had won the last four sessions heading into a critical afternoon but India dug in magnificently, reaching tea without losing a further wicket, on 86-2.
England’s sole chance of that session saw Gill dropped by Dawson on 46 off Carse’s bowling, in what would have been a good catch at backward point.
The pitch and ball appeared to be dying on England and the early pressure was fading with each ball bowled following tea, as Rahul followed his captain to 50.
England tried just about everything, though Stokes did not bowl and seemed to clutch his hamstring on multiple occasions, with Dawson taking on significant work with 22 overs bowled.
India’s batters looked more and more comfortable at the crease and with the ball over 50 overs old, Stokes was forced to bowl spin at both ends, in the desperate hope Dawson and Root might be able to steal a wicket.
In the end it was not to be, with Rahul unbeaten on 87, with his captain leading by example on 78 not out.
England will get the new ball after 17 overs on Sunday, in what is set to be the crucial period to decide whether the hosts win the series a Test early or go to the Oval needing a result.
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