In a gripping contest at Old Trafford, the fourth Test between England and India concluded in a dramatic draw, with the visitors staging an impressive comeback after conceding a daunting first-innings lead of 311 runs.
Ravindra Jadeja’s resolute century and his unbeaten 203-run stand with Washington Sundar became the cornerstone of India’s survival. This performance added yet another thrilling chapter to the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, setting the stage for a blockbuster finale at The Oval.
Senior cricketer Ravindra Jadeja emerged as the savior for India in the second innings of the recently concluded fourth Test, scoring a defiant 107 runs off 185 balls. Batting at number six, Jadeja displayed both patience and aggression, finding the boundary 13 times and clearing it once. His century came at a critical juncture and together with Washington Sundar who remained unbeaten on 101, he stitched an unbroken partnership of 203 runs for the fifth wicket. Their collaboration ensured India clawed their way back into the game, eventually forcing a draw despite a steep deficit in the first innings.
This century also marked a personal milestone for Ravindra Jadeja as he crossed 400 runs in the series when he reached 53 in his innings. The achievement places him alongside Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, all of whom have also surpassed the 400-run mark during the ongoing series. This is a first in the Indian Test cricket history, never before have four Indian batsmen crossed the 400-run threshold in a single series.
The significance of this achievement is underscored when looking back at India’s early days in Test cricket. The team played its first Test in June 1932 at Lord’s but their first full series came in 1933-34, at home against England. Lala Amarnath topped the batting charts in that inaugural series with 203 runs from six innings, a figure that now mirrors what Jadeja and Sundar added in a single partnership.
Shubman Gill, meanwhile, has been the standout performer of the series. With a staggering tally of 722 runs including a double century and three fifties, he stands as India’s highest scorer in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Rahul and Rishabh Pant have also made vital contributions, scoring 511 and 479 runs respectively. Unfortunately, Pant will miss the final Test due to a foot injury sustained during the opening day at Old Trafford, ending his chance to surpass Budhi Kunderan’s longstanding record for the most runs by an Indian wicketkeeper in a Test series. Budhi Kunderan had scored 525 runs in the 1965 home series against England.
Shubman Gill, however, remains in pursuit of a more monumental record. He needs just 53 more runs at The Oval to eclipse the legendary Sunil Gavaskar’s record of 774 runs in a single series, a feat Gavaskar achieved against West Indies in 1971. With one Test left, the series remains alive with not just team pride on the line but also individual legacies awaiting history.
