India, led by captain Shubman Gill, batted with great character to secure a hard-fought draw in the fourth test against England on Sunday and keep the series alive going into the final game. After losing two wickets before they had scored a run in their second innings, India batted for over five sessions for the loss of two more wickets to end the final day on 425-4 at Old Trafford. A courageous hundred from Gill — his fourth of the series — and dogged unbeaten centuries from Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar gave the home crowd little to cheer on a tough day for England. A closely-fought series remains at 2-1 to England and the hosts must avoid defeat in the final test at the Oval in London, starting on Thursday, to win it.
Here are some key stats from a gritty effort at Old Trafford that leaves India hoping, and England a bit frustrated.
1 – Shubman Gill became the first Test captain to record four centuries in an away series. Don Bradman and Sunil Gavaskar are the only other captains to record four tons in a series. Jacques Kallis, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root and Mohammed Yousuf the only other batters to record the feat in the 21st century.
6/13 – Of the 127 Tests in history where teams batting second have earned a 300+ innings lead, only 13 matches have ended in a draw. India have converted 6 of those matches into draws after conceding 300-plus leads batting first.
417 – KL Rahul and Shubman Gill faced 417 deliveries during their 3rd-wicket stand, the longest recorded partnership by an Indian pair for any wicket in England.
2/40* – Only the second time in 40 Tests in the Bazball era that England have played a drawn Test, following the 2023 Ashes Test also in Manchester (Day 5 washed out).
1 – Ravindra Jadeja became the first Indian to record 1000 runs and 30 wickets in an away country and the third overall after Wilfred Rhodes (in AUS) and Garry Sobers (in ENG). Jadeja is also the first Indian batter to record two centuries at No. 6 or lower in a SENA Test with his second ton in England.
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1543 – India have faced the most balls in a match in the World Test Championship. Incidentally, England are the only team to bowl 1500 deliveries (thrice) in a match in the WTC.
