Rahul, Jaiswal Weather Early Storm After England Elect to Bowl First in Fourth Test

The fourth Test between England and India got underway at Old Trafford on Wednesday with the series hanging in balance — England leading 2-1 and India seeking a historic first Test win at this venue to level the contest. Having lost the toss for the fourth consecutive time, India were sent in to bat under overcast skies. But the opening hour of play saw the visitors display immense resolve as openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal guided India to a steady 59/0 at the first drinks break.

The pitch at Old Trafford, with a firm surface and green tinge, promised assistance for seamers early on — a factor that led England skipper Ben Stokes to opt for bowling. “The overheads are handy, and we expect some help for the fast bowlers. It’s a classic Manchester wicket,” Stokes said at the toss. England made one forced change, with Liam Dawson returning to the Test side after a staggering 102-match absence, replacing the injured Shoaib Bashir.

India, grappling with injuries of their own, made three changes. Anshul Kamboj received his maiden cap, replacing Akash Deep, while Sai Sudharsan and Shardul Thakur were brought in for the injured Nitish Reddy and out-of-form Karun Nair. “We’ve dominated phases throughout the series — it’s just about tightening up in key moments,” said stand-in captain Shubman Gill, sounding confident despite losing the toss.

Opening Hour: A Gritty Start

England’s new-ball pairing of Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer made the Indian openers work hard for every run. The ball moved consistently outside off-stump, and both Rahul and Jaiswal were tested by probing lengths and occasional short stuff.

Woakes struck first blood — metaphorically — as he consistently beat Jaiswal’s outside edge in the first few overs. The left-hander survived a few nervy moments, including multiple plays and misses, but hung on. His first boundary came fortuitously in the fifth over, when an outside edge flew past the slips.

At the other end, KL Rahul was compact and composed. After getting off the mark with a leg glance, he began finding his rhythm with crisp stroke play. A signature back-foot punch through point and a classical cover drive brought some much-needed momentum to India's innings. Rahul mixed caution with calculated aggression, including a square drive and an on-the-rise punch that pierced the off-side field.

Despite the hostile conditions, both batters showed strong judgment outside off-stump — letting several deliveries go — a sign of their intent to blunt the new-ball threat before cashing in. By the 14th over, India were 42 without loss, a solid foundation in the face of England’s fiery pace attack.

Seamers Dominate but No Breakthrough

England rotated their quicks efficiently. Brydon Carse was introduced early and immediately extracted bounce from the surface, but the Indian openers were watchful. Stokes brought himself on just before drinks, trying to break the stand, but with no immediate success. The pitch, while assisting movement, lacked exaggerated seam or swing, and the Indian openers capitalized on this by settling into their rhythm.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, after his edgy start, began showing more fluency with front-foot drives and flicks through mid-wicket, though several of his shots went straight to the fielders. Rahul, on the other hand, showed greater command — particularly square of the wicket — finding boundaries off both Woakes and Carse with confident strokeplay.

At the first hour mark, Rahul was unbeaten on 38, and Jaiswal on 28. The unbroken stand has laid down a marker for India, not just in terms of runs but in mental fortitude, having denied England a breakthrough under prime bowling conditions.

Milestone Alert: Rahul Joins Elite Company

Amidst the gritty opening stand, KL Rahul reached a personal milestone — completing 1000 Test runs in England. He becomes only the third Indian opener after Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid to achieve this feat on English soil. Known for his adaptability in tough overseas conditions, Rahul’s innings on Day 1 was another testament to his technique and temperament.

Background: High Stakes, Historic Venue

India’s record at Old Trafford makes this effort all the more significant. In their previous nine Tests here, the visitors have lost four and drawn five — a win continues to elude them. The last time India played at this ground was in 2014, and it ended in a heavy defeat.

The pitch at Manchester, since 2019, has shown balance — with both batting first and chasing sides winning three Tests each. Fast bowlers account for 77% of wickets at the venue, underlining the importance of negotiating the new ball — a task Rahul and Jaiswal have handled with maturity thus far.

As the skies continue to loom grey and the contest intensifies, the opening hour has gone India’s way. Whether they can convert this promising start into a match-defining innings will depend on how they weather the middle session and beyond.

Score at First Drinks Break: India 68/0 in 20 overs
KL Rahul: 38* (showing growing fluency and grit)
Yashasvi Jaiswal: 28* (after a shaky start, finding his rhythm)
Bowling: Woakes (0/24), Archer (0/10), Carse, Stokes — wicketless but probing

Stay tuned as Day 1 unfolds — can India break the Old Trafford curse, or will England strike back with the ball?

Also Read: Grit, Guts, and a Gutted Finish: Jadeja’s Heroics Fall Short as England Snatch Victory