India's Balanced Approach Shines in Fourth Test Against England

In the fourth Test against England, India's cricket team displayed a commendable mix of caution and aggression, as highlighted by former coach Ravi Shastri. Despite England's missed opportunities, India ended the first session at 78/0, with KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal at the crease. With the series at a critical juncture, this match could define the future of Captain Shubman Gill's leadership. Read on to discover more about the match dynamics and player performances.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 24, 2025, 01:59 IST

India's Strong Start in Fourth Test

Manchester [UK], July 23: After the first session of play in the fourth Test at Manchester, former Indian coach Ravi Shastri praised India's performance as a perfect blend of caution and aggression. Meanwhile, ex-England captain Nasser Hussain expressed that England might feel unfortunate despite having numerous opportunities to take wickets.

India navigated the initial session without losing a wicket, with KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal intensifying their attack in the closing overs.

On Sky Sports, Shastri noted that given the overcast conditions and the presence of experienced English bowlers, India executed a session of 'world-class' cricket. He remarked, 'They displayed the right balance between caution and aggression, leaving many balls and trusting their defense. Towards the end, they increased their scoring rate. Rahul appears untroubled at the crease.'

Conversely, Hussain pointed out the missed chances for England, highlighting how the ball frequently passed the outside edge. He mentioned that Chris Woakes made Jaiswal work hard initially, while Brydon Carse seemed to lack his usual rhythm.

'Carse didn't find his groove and bowled a bit short. The criticism is that if England had bowled fuller, there was enough movement to bring slips and gully into play,' he concluded.

At the conclusion of the session, India stood at 78/0, with KL Rahul on 40* and Jaiswal on 36*.

Ben Stokes won the toss for the fourth consecutive time and chose to bowl first against India at Old Trafford on Wednesday. With India trailing 1-2 in the series, a victory is crucial to keep their hopes alive. A loss would signify the start of Captain Shubman Gill's leadership era. Following their 22-run victory at Lord's, England aims to extend their lead in the series.

England (Playing XI): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes(c), Jamie Smith(w), Liam Dawson, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer

India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Anshul Kamboj.