India closed the opening day of the fourth Test of the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy at Old Trafford on a commanding 264 for 4, thanks largely to patient half-centuries from left-handers Sai Sudarshan (61) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (58). At stumps, Ravindra Jadeja (19* off 31 balls) and Shardul Thakur (19* off 26 balls) had added a fighting unbeaten 29-run stand to keep the visitors firmly on top of this crucial encounter.
Electing to field first on a typically green Manchester wicket, England’s seamers struck regularly in the opening session but were unable to break the 42-run opening stand. Jaiswal and KL Rahul both reached double figures before tea, with Rahul notching up the landmark of 1,000 Test runs on English soil – joining a select quintet of Indians to achieve the feat.
After lunch, India gradually extended their lead. The tourists passed 150 in the 53rd over and reached 200 by the 65th over, only for wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant’s valiant innings to be cut short on 37 when a sharp Chris Woakes delivery struck his right foot. The impact looked serious; Pant was forced off in obvious pain, replaced at the crease by Jadeja, leaving India a wicket down on 212.
Sudarshan then seized centre stage, guiding India past 235 before edging a Ben Stokes delivery to slip for a well-compiled 61 off 151 balls. Thakur’s gritty presence alongside Jadeja saw India through to 250 in the 79th over, before stumps were called with the pair unbeaten on 264/4.
For England, all-rounder Ben Stokes led the attack with figures of 2 for 47 in 14 overs, supported by Chris Woakes (1/43) and left-arm spinner Liam Dawson (1/45). England will need to find early breakthroughs on Day 2 if they are to wrestle back control in this pivotal penultimate Test, with India eyeing a series-levelling victory.
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