India Great Escape As Gill, Jadeja, Washington Hit Centuries To Deny England Win

India Great Escape As Gill, Jadeja, Washington Hit Centuries To Deny England Win

India great escape became the highlight of the Manchester Test as Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar scored crucial centuries to ensure a dramatic draw against England. After being behind for most of the game, Team India showed grit and determination to save the match and keep the five-match series alive at 2-1. The final Test will now be played at The Oval, with everything to play for.

India’s Second Innings – A Wall of Resistance

India were in deep trouble at 1 for 2 before lunch on Day 4, still trailing England by more than 300 runs. After bowling for 150+ overs, the Indian team was exhausted. But Shubman Gill, leading the side in this Test, showed exceptional leadership with the bat.

He built a solid 188-run partnership with KL Rahul (who scored a patient 90) to pull India out of danger. After Rahul’s dismissal, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja took charge and stitched an unbeaten 203-run stand, taking India to 425/4 by stumps on Day 5.

Their batting not only saved the Test but also crushed England’s morale. England bowlers were made to toil for 143 overs in the second innings — a true testament to India’s fightback spirit.

Match Summary

• England 1st Innings: 669 all out
  (Root 150, Stokes 141, Duckett 94, Crawley 84, Jadeja 4-143)

• India 1st Innings: 358 all out
  (Sai Sudharsan 61, Jaiswal 58, Pant 54, Stokes 5-72)

• India 2nd Innings: 425/4
  (Gill 103, Jadeja 107, Washington 101*, Rahul 90)*

• Result: Match drawn

• Series Score: England lead 2-1

Gill Leads from the Front

Gill’s hundred was his fourth in this series, making him only the third captain in history to score four or more Test centuries in a single series. He now has 700+ runs in the series and has converted every 20+ score into a century — a rare and elite trait. India Great Escape

Despite facing a hat-trick ball in the first over of the innings, Gill stood tall. His composed century under immense pressure laid the foundation for India’s escape. India Great Escape

Washington and Jadeja: Heroes Down the Order

Washington Sundar, promoted to No. 5 due to Rishabh Pant’s injury, grabbed the opportunity with both hands and smashed his maiden Test century. He batted with poise, patience, and power.

Jadeja, who had already shined with the ball in the first innings (4/143), capped off his brilliant series with the bat too. His century added pressure on the tired English bowling attack. India Great Escape

Their 203-run stand was the backbone of India’s survival and ensured that England would be left frustrated and exhausted heading into the decider. India Great Escape

England’s Missed Chances and Frustration

Captain Ben Stokes, despite dealing with cramps and shoulder pain, gave it his all. He produced a brilliant 8-over spell and dismissed KL Rahul. But apart from that breakthrough, England couldn’t do much.

Gill was dropped early in his innings, which proved costly. By the final hour of the match, England’s frustration boiled over. They started bowling slow, gentle lobs — clearly giving up and mocking the situation. But India remained focused, and Jadeja and Washington even pushed to complete their centuries. India Great Escape

What’s Next? The Oval Decider

India may not be able to win the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy outright now, but they can still level the series. The final match at The Oval will be played after just a three-day break — a big test for both teams’ stamina and strategy. India Great Escape

For England, this was only their second draw under Stokes’ captaincy. For India, it was a morale-boosting result after being completely outplayed in the first half of the match.

Key Takeaways from India Great Escape

• Shubman Gill: 103 off 261, continues purple patch as skipper

• Ravindra Jadeja: 107 off 237*, all-round brilliance

• Washington Sundar: 101 off 238*, maiden Test century

• KL Rahul: Anchored the innings with 90

• England bowled 143 overs in 2nd innings, showing India’s dominance

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