Manchester: Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur provided India with a vital late-session boost as they guided the visitors to 264 for 4 at stumps on Day 1 of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford. Their unbeaten partnership steadied the ship after a flurry of wickets and an unfortunate injury to vice-captain Rishabh Pant threatened to derail India’s strong start.
India Start Solid But Lose Momentum In Middle Session
India began the day with composure as openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul laid a solid foundation under overcast skies. Jaiswal continued his impressive run with a fluent 58, while Rahul added a confident 46. Debutant Sai Sudharsan also rose to the occasion with a gritty knock of 61, showing maturity beyond his years on a challenging surface.
However, the middle session brought England back into the contest. Mark Wood and James Anderson struck in quick succession, removing Jaiswal and Rahul before pinning down Sudharsan. The disciplined English attack made effective use of the conditions, applying pressure through tight lines and consistent pace.
Pant Retires Hurt In Freak Incident
A major blow for India came when Rishabh Pant retired hurt on 37 after a reverse-sweep ricocheted off his own foot. The injury appeared serious, as Pant had to be helped off the field in an ambulance cart. Team sources later confirmed that initial scans were inconclusive, and a fracture could not be ruled out, casting doubt on his further participation in the match and series.
Jadeja And Thakur Display Grit In Testing Conditions
With the top and middle order back in the pavilion, the responsibility fell to Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur to ensure India did not squander their promising start. The duo played with a calm head, countering both pace and spin in fading light. They added an unbeaten 42-run stand, with both batters finishing the day on 19 not out.
Umpires eventually called stumps due to poor light, forcing England to rely on part-time spin in the final overs, which Jadeja and Thakur negotiated confidently.
A Crucial Morning Awaits
India will resume Day 2 with hopes of extending their first innings total well beyond 350. With the second new ball only a few overs away, England will look to strike early. Much will depend on the overnight pair and the availability of Rishabh Pant.
As things stand, the match is delicately poised. India’s top-order application, middle-order resilience, and lower-order composure have combined to give them a slight edge, while England will be banking on early breakthroughs to wrest control on what promises to be another riveting day of Test cricket.
Score at Stumps, Day 1:
India – 264/4 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 58, Sai Sudharsan 61, KL Rahul 46, Rishabh Pant 37 retired hurt; Wood 2/63, Anderson 1/49)
Play Resumes: Day 2, 11:00 AM Local Time, Old Trafford, Manchester.
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