Daijiworld Media Network - Manchester
Manchester, Jul 22: With the five-match Test series at 2-1 in England’s favour, all roads now lead to Old Trafford for the crucial fourth clash between India and England starting Wednesday. For India, it’s about survival. For England, it’s a shot at sealing the series. Either way, drama is guaranteed.
India are still licking their wounds from the Lord’s loss, a match riddled with misjudged shots, missed opportunities, and painful run-outs. But the visitors are determined to turn the page, and captain Shubman Gill is placing his trust in Jasprit Bumrah to lead the charge once more.
Injury setbacks have forced changes in the Indian camp—Akash Deep and Nitish Kumar Reddy are out. This opens the door for Sai Sudharsan to return at No. 3, while either Prasidh Krishna or the uncapped Anshul Kamboj could be picked as the third seamer. Kamboj, who claimed all 10 wickets in a Ranji innings last season, is a tempting option. If conditions favour seam, Shardul Thakur might get the nod over off-spinning all-rounder Washington Sundar.
India’s top order carries both form and fragility. Yashasvi Jaiswal has been consistent, KL Rahul resumes his opening duties, and Gill is expected to bat at No. 4. But the real X-factor remains Rishabh Pant. His series has oscillated between brilliance and misfortune—a costly lapse at Lord’s followed by a gutsy knock despite an injured hand. Now, with eight days of recovery behind him, fans wonder which version of Pant will show up in Manchester.
History offers India some hope—they’ve clawed their way back in series twice before (vs West Indies in 1974-75 and Australia in 1977-78), though they fell short in the deciders. This time, they aim to flip that script.
For England, the objective is clear: finish the job. Captain Ben Stokes returns refreshed after four days off, and Jofra Archer’s pace resurgence adds firepower. However, spinner Shoaib Bashir, the hero of the last win, is sidelined with a broken hand. In comes Liam Dawson, returning to Test cricket after eight years, riding high on superb domestic form—15 five-wicket hauls since 2021, including three ten-wicket match hauls.
Zak Crawley, once a free-swinging dasher, is embracing patience, soaking up deliveries and showing a more restrained side to his batting. Though his average has dipped, he was instrumental in the 371-run chase in the first Test.
Meanwhile, Joe Root continues to quietly build a legacy. With 13,259 Test runs, he’s within striking distance of Ricky Ponting’s tally of 13,378. Just 120 more, and he becomes the second-highest run-scorer in Test history—another subplot in an already compelling series.
The pitch at Old Trafford promises pace and bounce, ideal for seamers who are willing to bend their backs. Batters could enjoy value for their shots, but showers loom large over Days 1 and 2, potentially disrupting proceedings.
Match Details:
?? Date: Wednesday, July 23
?? Time: 3:30 PM IST
?? Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester
?? Broadcast: Sony Sports Network
?? Streaming: JioHotstar
India Squad Highlights:
Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc & wk), Bumrah, Jaiswal, Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Jadeja, Thakur, Kuldeep
England Squad Highlights:
Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Joe Root, Zak Crawley, Liam Dawson, Chris Woakes
Let the battle resume.