IND vs ENG Day 4: Joe Root 150 & Benjamin Stokes Leads the Charge

IND vs ENG Day 4: Joe Root 150 & Benjamin Stokes Leads the Charge

Joe Root smashes Test-great 150 as England lead by 186 runs. Benjamin Andrew Stokes delivers all-round brilliance. Rain threatens Day 4 at Old Trafford.

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England Consolidates Control as Root and Stokes Dominate Day 4

Day 4 of the 4th Test between India and England at Old Trafford has unfolded with England firmly in the driver's seat, largely thanks to a magnificent century from Joe Root and a crucial all-round performance from captain Benjamin Andrew Stokes. Resuming their first innings, England's batsmen extended their dominance, pushing their lead to a formidable 186 runs, putting immense pressure on the visiting Indian side.

While England's commanding position is undeniable, the looming threat of rain, which has already caused interruptions, adds an element of uncertainty to the proceedings. This report provides a detailed analysis of the day's play, highlighting the key performances that have shaped the match and the challenges that lie ahead for India.

Day 3 Recap: Pope and Root Build England's Strong Foundation

Day 3 was pivotal in shifting the momentum decisively in England's favor. Resuming at 225 for 2, Ollie Pope and Joe Root displayed exceptional resilience and skill. Their unbroken partnership frustrated the Indian bowlers, as they not only erased India's first-innings total of 358 but also began building a significant lead. Pope played a steadying hand, while Root accelerated, ensuring England ended Day 3 in a commanding position. India's bowlers struggled to find breakthroughs, allowing England to consolidate their innings effectively.

Joe Root's Batting Masterclass: A Test-Great 150

Joe Root continued his stellar form, converting his overnight score into a magnificent century and eventually a Test-great 150. His innings was a masterclass in controlled aggression and astute shot selection, demonstrating why he is considered one of the finest batsmen of his generation.

• Composure and Control: Root showed immense composure against both pace and spin, playing with soft hands and finding gaps effortlessly.
• Milestone Achievement: Reaching 150 runs is a significant milestone, further enhancing his already illustrious Test career statistics. This innings was crucial in setting up England's dominant total.
• Partnership Building: He anchored the innings, first with Ollie Pope and then with Benjamin Stokes, ensuring that England consistently added runs and wore down the Indian bowling attack.
• Aggression and Intent: While displaying patience, Root also ensured the scoreboard kept ticking, punishing loose deliveries and maintaining a healthy run rate.

Root's innings has been the cornerstone of England's first-innings total, providing the stability and impetus needed to put them in a commanding position.

Benjamin Andrew Stokes: Leading from the Front with All-Round Brilliance

England's captain, Benjamin Andrew Stokes, once again showcased his all-round brilliance, making significant contributions with both bat and ball. His performance exemplifies his leadership and ability to influence the game in multiple facets.

• Crucial Batting Contribution: Stokes provided vital support to Root, playing an aggressive yet sensible innings that accelerated England's scoring rate and further extended their lead. His quick runs were crucial in building pressure on India.
• Bowling Impact: Before his batting heroics, Stokes had already made an impact with the ball on Day 2, claiming a five-wicket haul (5/72) that helped wrap up India's innings for 358. His ability to pick up crucial wickets when needed is invaluable.
• Captaincy: His proactive captaincy, aggressive field placements, and timely bowling changes have kept India under constant pressure throughout their innings.

Stokes' dual performance has been instrumental in England's dominant display, reinforcing his status as one of the world's premier all-rounders and a formidable leader.

England's Commanding Lead: Setting Up a Potential Declaration

With Joe Root's century and strong contributions from other batsmen, England has now established a significant first-innings lead of 186 runs. This commanding position gives them immense strategic flexibility.

• Strategic Advantage: A lead of this magnitude allows England to dictate the terms of the match. They can now look to bat for a certain period, further increasing the lead, before declaring and putting India in to bat under pressure.
• Time Factor: With rain interruptions, England will be mindful of the time left in the match. A declaration will be timed to give their bowlers enough overs to take 10 Indian wickets.
• Psychological Edge: A large first-innings lead puts immense psychological pressure on the opposition, especially on a pitch that might start deteriorating.

England's focus will now be on maximizing their lead quickly and then unleashing their bowlers on India's batting lineup.

Weather Watch: Rain Threat Looms Over Day 4 at Old Trafford

The weather has been a significant factor on Day 4, with rain causing interruptions and potentially impacting the flow of the game.

• Intermittent Showers: The forecast for Old Trafford on Day 4 (July 26, 2025) indicated intermittent showers, which have already led to delays in play.
• Impact on Play: These interruptions can be frustrating for both teams, breaking momentum and reducing the number of overs bowled. For England, it means less time to build a lead and bowl India out. For India, it means fewer opportunities to take wickets.
• Pitch Conditions: The covers coming on and off due to rain can also affect the pitch, potentially making it damp initially, which might aid seam bowlers, or drying it out later, which could assist spinners.

The captains will be closely monitoring the weather, as it could play a crucial role in the strategic decisions for the remainder of the match.

India's Uphill Battle: Seeking a Path to Comeback

India faces a significant uphill battle on Day 4. Their primary objective will be to wrap up England's innings as quickly as possible and then show immense batting resilience to negate the large deficit.

• Early Wickets: India desperately needs early wickets to prevent England from extending their lead further. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj will need to be at their absolute best.
• Batting Resilience: When it's their turn to bat, India's top order will need to show exceptional application and determination. They must bat for long periods, score runs, and avoid collapses to stay in the game.
• Ravindra Jadeja's Role: As the pitch wears, Jadeja's left-arm spin will become crucial for both taking wickets and controlling the scoring rate.

The next few sessions will test India's character and resolve to the fullest.

Match Outlook: England in Control, India Fights for Survival

Day 4 has firmly established England's dominance in the 4th Test. With a substantial lead and key batsmen performing, they are in a strong position to push for a victory. The only factor that might hinder them is the weather.

For India, the focus shifts from winning to saving the Test. They need extraordinary performances from their bowlers to limit England's lead and then a heroic batting effort to bat out time or score enough runs to set a challenging target. The match promises to be a gripping contest, with every session proving crucial.