Can India save the fourth Test at Old Trafford against England?

Dubai: England head into Day Four of the fourth Test at Old Trafford with one hand on the Pataudi Trophy, having dominated the contest so far and built a commanding 186-run lead with skipper Ben Stokes still at the crease. With just three wickets down in the second innings, the hosts are poised to stretch the lead well past 250 — leaving India staring at the grim prospect of a series loss.

For India, this is no longer about fighting for a win. It’s about survival — with only a draw keeping their hopes alive ahead of the final Test at The Oval.

Heavy workload on pacers

Plagued by injuries and questionable selection choices, India have looked out of their depth in Manchester. The latest blow came on Day 3 when pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah left the field with a niggle just after taking the second new ball. Mohammed Siraj, who battled through pain, deserves credit for showing grit, but the workload has clearly taken a toll.

Rishabh Pant added a flicker of hope with a brave, counter-attacking half-century despite nursing a toe fracture. But his availability for the second innings remains uncertain, further compounding India’s woes.

Gill pushed into the deep end

Former cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar believes India’s problems run deeper than just injuries. Speaking on JioHotstar, he said Shubman Gill — leading India for the first time in England — has been put in an unenviable position.

“Shubman Gill is on his first tour of England as a batter and has also been thrown into the deep end as captain, carrying immense responsibility,” Manjrekar said. “He fought well across the first three Tests, but this game feels slightly beyond India, considering the challenges and resources.”

One of those key challenges has been the bowling combination. With Akash Deep and Nitish Kumar Reddy unavailable due to injury, India flew in Anshul Kamboj as a late replacement — and threw him straight into the XI. Unsurprisingly, the young pacer has struggled to adapt to the demands of Test cricket.

Bowling combination not up to the mark

Manjrekar pointed to the stark disparity in India’s bowling returns: the seamers — Bumrah, Siraj, Kamboj and Shardul Thakur — bowled a combined 83 overs for just three wickets, while the spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar claimed four wickets in just 52 overs.

“One area India could’ve improved is their bowling combination. Seamers didn’t get enough penetration while spin looked more effective. That’s something they’ll need to reassess,” he added. “The standout, though, was Siraj — it was great to see him bowl with such heart.”

The team composition has also come under scrutiny. India fielded four all-rounders — Jadeja, Sundar, Thakur and Kamboj — leaving them short in both batting assurance and bowling firepower. With no specialist bowler to partner Bumrah and Siraj, and no top-order reinforcement beyond the regulars, India have appeared neither here nor there.

The management seems to have forgotten one basic rule: bits-and-pieces players might win you T20s, but in Tests, you need specialists.

The challenge now is steep. With England set to build on their sizeable lead, India’s only realistic shot is to bat out of their skins in their second innings and hope rain offers a helping hand. Anything less, and the series could be decided before the teams reach The Oval.