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Updated July 24, 2025

Pant Retires Hurt as India End Day 1 on Top in Manchester

TL;DR

India made a confident start in the 4th Test match against England at Old Trafford, Manchester. After being asked to bat first by England captain Ben Stokes,...

Pant Retires Hurt as India End Day 1 on Top in Manchester

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India made a confident start in the 4th Test match against England at Old Trafford, Manchester. After being asked to bat first by England captain Ben Stokes, the Indian batters responded well and finished Day 1 on a solid 264 for 4.

Match Report

The pitch looked good for batting, and the Indian openers took full advantage. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal gave India a strong start with a 94-run opening stand. Rahul played with patience and experience, while Jaiswal added flair with his aggressive shots. KL Rahul reached a personal milestone during the innings. He became only the fourth Indian to score over 1,000 Test runs in England, joining legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar. He played confidently before falling after scoring 46 runs. Yashasvi Jaiswal also looked in good touch. He played a few eye-catching strokes, including a brilliant reverse scoop off Jofra Archer. However, he was dismissed after scoring 58. Youngster Sai Sudharsan came in at number three and played a steady knock. He scored 61 runs and helped build another important partnership. Although he got out before the new ball was taken, his innings provided India with a strong platform. A major concern for India came when Rishabh Pant got injured. While trying to play a reverse sweep, Pant was hit on the foot and had to retire hurt on 37. He looked in serious pain and was taken off the field in a medical cart. His injury remains a big worry for the Indian team as they look to build a bigger first-innings score. Ravindra Jadeja batted positively after Pant's injury and remained not out on 19 by the end of the day. Alongside Shardul Thakur, who is on 19 not out, Jadeja will look to continue the momentum on Day 2. For England, the bowlers struggled for most of the day. Though they got a few wickets after lunch, they failed to maintain pressure for long periods. Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, and Liam Dawson were the most threatening, but India’s batters played them with care. India will be happy with their position at stumps. They have wickets in hand and a good total already on the board. However, the extent of Rishabh Pant’s injury could change their plans moving forward. With England leading the series 2-1, this match is important for India. They must win to stay alive in the five-match series. A strong performance with the bat on Day 2 could set up the match perfectly for them.

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