India pull off famous draw to set up Oval decider

There are some drawn Test matches that feel like victories. The Indian cricket team experienced this truth on Sunday at Old Trafford after their batting found some spin and dug in to deny England on the final day of the fourth Test, thus securing a hard-fought draw that sends the series into a decide at The Oval later this week. 

When the final day began, India’s score was 174/2. They were still 137 runs shy of erasing England’s lead and memories of their collapse on the last day at The Oval simmered. When the talismanic Ben Stokes – who else, right? – broke a big partnership by trapping KL Rahul lbw for 90, England had an opening. 

Shubman Gill converted his overnight 78 into a fourth century this series – he was the beneficiary of a drop on 83 – and when he was dismissed by Jofra Archer for 103, there was another chance for England to try and get into India’s lower order. Ravindra Jadeja was dropped first ball by Joe Root, who leapt at slip and very nearly held onto the chance on the second attempt. That was as close as the home team came to taking a wicket in the match, as Jadeja combined with Washington Sundar to get past England’s first-innings lead and to their respective centuries. 

That last bit of milestone chasing triggered a bit of needle from a very frustrated England team, with captain Stokes offering the draw at the drinks break of the final session with India ahead by 71 runs. Gill refused and instead allowed Jadeja and Washington a chance to their respective centuries – a first for Washington in Test cricket. In a series with a few heated moments already, this one could add some more spice to the deciding Test match. 

What makes India’s show of resilience even more special is that they have rarely been put in such backs-to-the-wall situations over the past five years. For the last time this happened, look to the Sydney Test of January 2021 when a battered and bruised Indian team surrendered just three wickets on the final day to pull off an epic draw. On that day, India resumed on 98/2 and still 309 runs shy of their victory target of 407, and at one stage looked like they were chasing a win when Rishabh Pant and Cheteshwar Pujara put on 148. 

But once Australia hit back with wickets to leave India on 272/5, it needed an incredible rearguard from Hanuma Vihari – hampered by a hamstring strain – and R Ashwin – with a stiff back – thwarted the home team for 258 deliveries with an alliance of 62. 

So yes, for this Indian team to get to 425/5 from 143 overs, thanks to Rahul (90 off 230 balls), Gill (103 from 238), Jadeja (107* off 185) and Washington (101* off 206) is a significant achievement. Jadeja and Washington – promoted to No 5 – batting two sessions to put on 203 should, in years to come, be viewed as one of India’s finest rearguards given the persistent brilliance of Stokes and the threat of the second new ball with Archer. 

And therein lies a tricky question for England: will Stokes, who has another match to remember with a century and six wickets, pull through for The Oval Test? There is a very quick turnaround between matches and Stokes, who has this series sent down 140 overs and batted 581 deliveries, looked like a man spent after the Old Trafford result. 

India, for their part, must now decide whether to play Jasprit Bumrah in the decider. The strike bowler had revealed before the series started that he would play only three of these five Tests as he manages his workload, but now, after this stirring draw, India have a chance to win at The Oval to end the series 2-2. 

However you look at it, this result in Manchester has turned the contest on its head. Much fun awaits at The Oval.