Collapse To Came Back

SOMETIMES A DRAW FEELS BIGGER THAN A WIN

India vs England – 4th Test Match Drawn

The 4th Test between India and England ended in a thrilling draw, but for Indian fans, it felt like a hard-earned victory. After trailing by over 300 runs and losing early wickets in the second innings, India showed resilience, calmness, and fighting spirit to save the match on the final day.

Toss and Start

England won the toss and chose to bowl first, taking advantage of the Day 1 conditions. The Indian batters walked out with confidence, but England's bowlers, led by their captain Ben Stokes, kept the pressure on from the start.

India’s First Innings – 358 All Out

India’s first innings was a story of missed opportunities. Almost every batter got a good start, but none could turn it into a big score.

  • Sai Sudharsan top-scored with 62 runs, playing with patience and technique.
  • Yashasvi Jaiswal (58) and KL Rahul (46) also looked in good touch but failed to convert.
  • Rishabh Pant, playing with a fractured foot, showed great courage and scored a valuable 54.
  • Shardul Thakur added a handy 41 in the lower order.

India’s failure to build big partnerships was largely due to the excellent bowling of Ben Stokes, who took 5 wickets, using clever angles and variations to dismiss set batters.


England’s First Innings – 699 All Out

In reply, England put up a mammoth total of 699 runs, taking complete control of the match.

  • Openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett provided a solid 166-run stand, laying the foundation.
  • Joe Root scored a fluent 121, while Ben Stokes followed his five-for with a quick century (108).

India’s bowlers toiled hard but couldn't break partnerships early or stop the run flow.

  • Ravindra Jadeja took 4 wickets,
  • Washington Sundar and Jasprit Bumrah took 2 wickets each, but bowled too many loose deliveries.

England gained a huge 311-run lead, putting India under massive pressure.

India’s Second Innings – The Great Fightback

India’s second innings started disastrously. Openers Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan were both dismissed in the first over, leaving India at 0 for 2.

That’s when KL Rahul and Shubman Gill stepped up. Their calm and mature approach helped India recover from the early collapse.

  • The duo built a crucial 188-run partnership, taking the team close to safety.
  • Rahul narrowly missed his century, falling for 90, while Gill reached a fine 103 under pressure.
  • Both were dismissed before lunch on Day 5, giving England some hope. But India wasn’t done yet.

Jadeja and Washington Sundar held their ground and turned the tide once again.
They played confidently and brought up centuries each, ensuring India reached safety and drew the match.

Positive Takeaways for India

🏏 Batters in Good Form:

Despite the first-innings collapse, several batters contributed in both innings:

  • Jaiswal (58), Rahul (46), Sai Sudharsan (62), Pant (54), Thakur (41) in the first innings
  • Gill (103), Rahul (90), Jadeja (107*), Sundar (101*) in the second innings

This shows India's batting line-up has depth and form.

🌀 Spin All-Rounders Deliver:

Both Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar were brilliant:


  • Jadeja: 4 wickets + 107*
  • Sundar: 2 wickets + 101*
    Their presence gives India balance in both departments and helped save the match.

🧠 Big Partnership Under Pressure:

The 188-run stand between Gill and Rahul rescued India from a near-collapse. It showed great mental strength and understanding of the match situation.


Areas That Need Improvement

⚠️ Batting Conversion:

Too many batters got out after getting set. In the first innings, none of the top-order players crossed 70. To post big totals, India needs someone to bat long and score a century. At least one player must take the responsibility to anchor the innings.

⚡ Bowling Execution:

India's bowling lacked sharpness, especially in the first half of England’s innings. The pace bowlers struggled to maintain speed and line. The pressure eased on English batters too soon, allowing them to build massive partnerships. The bowling unit must stay consistent and energetic throughout.

🌀 Underuse of Spinners:

Even though Jadeja and Sundar took wickets, they were given fewer overs than expected and were not used early enough. The decision to delay spin may have cost India early breakthroughs. In future matches, the team management should consider bringing spinners into the attack sooner when conditions suit them.

Probable Changes for 5th Test

  • Rishabh Pant → Dhruv Jurel (due to injury)
  • Shardul Thakur or Bumrah → Prasidh Krishna (for added pace and freshness)

With the series still alive, India must win the final Test to draw the series. The team has shown resilience and character—now they need one last push.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Books review

Image
Recently, I have read three books: "હીરાનો ખજાનો," "સાથીદારની શોધમાં," and "લોલટુનની ગુફ઼ાઓમાં." These books are written by the famous Gujarati doctor and writer I. K. Vijlivala. They are part of the adventure stories genre. 1. હીરાનો ખજાનો (Treasure of Diamonds) The story begins with Dick, the main character and narrator of the entire series. Dick’s father worked on a ship traveling between Bira Port and Congo, Africa. When his father failed to return home, Dick discovered that he had been arrested by pirates. Determined to rescue him, Dick set out for Congo. Along the way, he was joined by Maicle Kaka, Poll, Hesling, Robert, and Jack. Later, Abira, Abana, and Matadi also became part of the group. Their journey from Bira Port was full of challenges, including encounters with a mysterious man, the threats of John Hesling and Cobra, attacks from cannibals (Zulu), and being captured by the pirates. However, each member of the team pos...
Read more

Two days national seminar at Valbhaipur

Image
Two-Day National Seminar on AI: Learning, Opportunities, and Challenges Government Arts College, Valbhipur (19-20 January 2025) I had the privilege of attending a two-day national seminar organized by Government Arts College, Valbhipur, on January 19–20, 2025. The seminar centered on "AI: Learning, Opportunities, and Challenges" and featured renowned experts like Dilip Barad, Nigam Dave,Dr.Rakesh Damir sir and Dr. Mahesh Jivani. Not only did I attend the sessions, but I also presented a paper, making this experience even more enriching. Day 1: January 19, 2025 I traveled to Valbhipur by bus, reaching at 6:45 AM. My friend and I walked to the college, arriving by 8:30 AM. After a delightful breakfast, the seminar began at 10:00 AM with Kavisha Ma’am as the anchor. First Speaker: Dilip Barad Dilip Barad Sir opened the seminar by discussing the advantages and disadvantages of AI. He highlighted that AI is a boon for rural areas and libraries but caution...
Read more

Barmuda triangle

Image
          The book is the fourth part of Dr. I. K. Vijlivala's adventure collection. summary of 1to 3 books .           The  Bermuda Triangle , also known as the Devil's Triangle, is a mysterious region in the western North Atlantic Ocean, roughly outlined by Miami (Florida), Bermuda, and San Juan (Puerto Rico). It is famous for reports of ships and aircraft disappearing under unexplained circumstances while traveling through this area. Over the years, stories like the disappearance of Flight 19 in 1945 have added to the legend. Various theories have been proposed to explain these incidents, including sudden weather changes, human error, magnetic anomalies, and even supernatural causes like alien abductions. However, many experts argue that the number of incidents in the Bermuda Triangle is not unusually high compared to other heavily traveled regions of the ocean, and most cases can be explained through natural or ...
Read more