England on Brink of Series Win as India Reach 149/3 on Day One at Old Trafford
The opening day of the fourth Test between India and England at Old Trafford got underway beneath overcast skies, with England gaining the early edge before India settled to reach 149 for 3 by the tea break.
England Put India In to Bat
Opting for an aggressive strategy, England skipper Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to field first, an unexpected decision at a ground known to favor batting. He backed his seamers to take advantage of the cloud cover and extract movement off the pitch. to batting.
Morning Session: Steady Indian Start
India’s openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, navigated the initial session with composure. Jaiswal, despite his bat snapping off, crafted a reliable half-century partnership, while Rahul quietly celebrated his 1,000th Test run in England, becoming just the fifth Indian batsman to do so. India reached 78/0 at lunch, showing discipline and patience.
Post-Lunch Breakthroughs
The second session swung in England’s favour. Liam Dawson, making his first Test appearance in eight years, made an immediate impact by removing Jaiswal for 58 with a well-flighted delivery that tempted the opener into a false shot. Soon after, Ben Stokes struck with a nip-backer that had Shubman Gill (12) trapped.
Rahul was dismissed for 46, undone by a tight and consistent spell from Chris Woakes, leaving India at 149 for 3 heading into the tea interval.
Key Stats and Turning Points
India ended the first session on 78/0, demonstrating early resilience. Dawson’s wicket of Jaiswal marked a fairy-tale comeback. Stokes’ disciplined seam bowling brought crucial breakthroughs.
Notably, a sharp chance was dropped by England’s keeper Jamie Smith off Sai Sudharsan, who has shown maturity at the crease alongside Rishabh Pant.
Conditions & Context
Overcast skies aided England’s seamers early on. However, after tea, batting conditions eased, helping India stabilise their innings. Meanwhile, heavy security checks delayed fans entering the stadium. With England leading the series 2–1, Stokes’ gamble with the ball could set the tone for sealing the series here.
India’s Batting Chart – Day One:
Batsman Score Status
Yashasvi Jaiswal 58 c Brook b Dawson
KL Rahul 46 lbw b Woakes
Shubman Gill 12 lbw b Stokes
Sai Sudharsan 31* Not out (at tea)
Rishabh Pant 8* Not out (at tea)
Tomorrow’s Outlook: India will look to consolidate after tea, while England seek to build pressure and claim final wickets. With the series on the line, this Test promises to be a gripping encounter.