India Faces Historic Defeat as England Scores Over 500 Runs in Fourth Test

In a significant setback for Team India, they allowed England to score over 500 runs in the fourth Test at Manchester, marking the first time since 2015 that India has conceded such a total away from home. Under the leadership of head coach Gautam Gambhir, India's performance has been under scrutiny, especially after England's Joe Root surpassed Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest run-scorer in Test history. This article delves into the match's key moments and player performances, highlighting the challenges faced by the Indian team.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 26, 2025, 02:00 IST

India's Struggles Continue in Manchester Test

Manchester [UK], July 26: In a troubling trend for Team India, their recent Test performances under head coach Gautam Gambhir have been disappointing. During the fourth Test against England, India allowed their opponents to surpass 500 runs away from home for the first time since 2015.

After England chose to bowl first, they restricted India to 358 runs in their first innings. In response, England amassed 544 runs for the loss of 7 wickets by the end of day three. Key contributions came from Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, and Ben Stokes, alongside a remarkable century from Joe Root, who has now surpassed Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest run-scorer in Test history.

The last instance of India conceding over 500 runs in an away Test was during the 2015 Sydney Test against Australia, where the hosts declared at 572/7, featuring centuries from David Warner and Steve Smith.

Since then, England has recorded three 500-plus totals against India in Tests: 537 in Rajkot (2016), 578 in Chennai (2021), and now this latest score.

In the ongoing Manchester Test, England resumed their innings at 225/2, with Ollie Pope and Joe Root at the crease. They quickly formed a century partnership, building on the solid starts from openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, who both scored fifties.

During the second session, Washington Sundar took the wickets of Ollie Pope and Harry Brook, but skipper Stokes and Root continued to dominate. Root eventually reached his 38th Test century, further solidifying his place in history. By the end of the second session, England stood at 433/4, with Stokes and Root still batting strong. However, both Siraj and Bumrah faced fitness challenges, with Bumrah only managing one over.

Stokes, who also reached his fifty, had to leave the field due to a leg issue. Root was dismissed by Jadeja for an impressive 150 runs, which included 14 boundaries. Bumrah and Siraj managed to take two quick wickets, but Stokes returned to the crease to stabilize the innings alongside Liam Dawson. England concluded the day at 544/7, holding a 186-run lead.

Earlier, after winning the toss, England opted to bowl first, and India posted 358 runs, with notable contributions from Sai Sudharsan, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant. Stokes was particularly effective, taking 5 wickets for 72 runs, preventing India from establishing a significant partnership.