IND vs ENG Live Score, 4th Test Match Day 4: Rain likely to disrupt play as India desperately eye breakthroughs
England resumed the day on 225/2 and piled on 319 runs for the loss of five wickets, finishing on 544/7. But the day undoubtedly belonged to Root, who combined surgical precision with artistic calm to notch up his 38th Test century and leapfrog Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid, and Ricky Ponting to move to No. 2 on the all-time Test run-scorers list.
Root shared a crucial 144-run stand with Ollie Pope, who scored 71, before Stokes arrived and made his highest score of the series. With Stokes and Liam Dawson (21* off 48) unbeaten at stumps, England will look to stretch their lead and further dent a struggling Indian bowling attack that lacked bite, discipline, and control throughout the day.
India’s woes deepened when both Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj had to leave the field during the second session due to ankle niggles, though Bumrah returned later. On a day where they conceded over 500 runs in an innings for the first time since 2021, India now face an uphill task to claw back into the contest.
The morning began quietly, until Root flicked Bumrah for four, followed by boundaries off Siraj from both Root and Pope. Root had a moment of fortune when he survived a run-out on 22—Jadeja’s throw from point missed its mark, and neither mid-off nor mid-on backed up the stumps.
Pope reached his 16th Test fifty off 93 balls, while Root overtook Dravid and Kallis in the Test run charts once he moved past 31. India introduced off-spinning all-rounder Washington Sundar in the 69th over, and Root soon brought up his 104th fifty-plus Test score off 99 balls before lunch.
Post-lunch, Sundar struck immediately as Pope, attempting to work him through the leg side, edged behind to KL Rahul at slip. India’s decision to hold off on taking the second new ball paid off again when Sundar’s flighted delivery deceived Harry Brook, who was stumped for just 3 by substitute wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel.
With Root and Stokes continuing to find the boundary at regular intervals, England moved into the lead. After spending 18 tense deliveries in the 90s, Root finally reached his 12th Test century against India—his second of the series—with a flick off debutant Anshul Kamboj in the 96th over.
The crowd erupted, chanting “ROOOOT” around Old Trafford, and they were on their feet again five overs later when Root nudged a single behind point to go past Ricky Ponting and become the second-highest scorer in Test history, just before the tea break.
The final session saw Bumrah return to the attack, but the pace spearhead lacked his usual rhythm. Root continued to dominate, driving Shardul Thakur past mid-on for four, while Stokes dispatched Bumrah through cover with authority.
Stokes brought up his 36th Test half-century and followed it with some flair—reverse sweeping Jadeja for four and pulling Sundar to the boundary. However, he began feeling discomfort in his left calf during the 115th over and retired hurt on 66 (off 116 balls) after the 116th over. The ECB later confirmed it was due to cramps.
Root reached yet another milestone—his 16th 150-plus Test score—but his brilliant knock ended on exactly 150 when Jadeja got one to spin and bounce past the outside edge, with Jurel completing a sharp stumping.
Bumrah struck immediately with the new ball, removing debutant Jamie Smith with a delivery that nipped away and caught the edge, giving Jurel his second dismissal of the day and marking Bumrah’s 50th Test wicket in England.
Siraj soon joined the wicket-takers list, bowling Chris Woakes with a delivery that stayed low and took the inside edge. Stokes, returning after treatment, ensured no further damage alongside Dawson as England closed out a dominant day of Test cricket.
