New appointed Indian test captain Shubman Gill’s army pulled off one of the most remarkable fourth-innings turnarounds in recent memory form a situation when opposition believed they would easily win the five match test series after getting the wicket of Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and number batter Sai Sudarshan in the very first over of second innings bowled by Chris Woakes. They frustrated the home side and ensured the series heads to London at 2-1.
300+ lead, 2 down for 0, five sessions to survive. Indian test captain Shubman Gill walked in and started the fight like a warrior in the battlefield with classy opener KL Rahul and did not give English bowlers any chance to make a comeback in the match. The duo displayed immense calmness under pressure, curbing England’s momentum with a partnership built on patience, grit, and steel.
Rahul’s brilliant knock of 90 off 230 balls was a masterclass in defiance until he got LBW out by England Test captain Ben Stokes, falling heartbreakingly short of a century. Gill, who kept India’s hopes alive, gave away his wicket just before lunch on Day 5 after completing a well deserved century, 103 off 238 deliveries.
With India four wickets down and Rishabh Pant unlikely to bat due to a toe injury, the whole pressure fell on Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar to survive the final two sessions. Jadeja, got an early lifeline as England’s supreme batter Joe Root dropped a catch off his very first ball—soon found his rhythm. Both Jadeja-Sundar stitched together a partnership that would go on to frustrate and drain the England bowling unit.
All the drama started in the last hour of play when England test skipper Ben Stokes requested the Indian pair with an offer to settle for a draw. The Indians, however, had other ideas. Jadeja and Sundar politely declined and continued to bat with clear intent. Their composure paid off. Both completed their hard fought centuries, Jadeja remained unbeaten on 107, while Sundar completed his century with an ice-cold calm, finishing on 101 not out.
Only then did India shake hands with the opposition, having completed an astonishing turnaround that seemed almost unthinkable three days earlier. Beyond personal milestones, this partnership was about belief and character. It was about rewriting the narrative when the opposition tried all the tricks in the books to stop you from reaching the milestone. More than anything, it showcased the depth and resilience of this Indian team and qualities that will be crucial as they gear up for the series-deciding Test at The Oval starting July 31.
For England, the draw was a bitter pill to swallow. Despite dominating for large stretches of the match and declaring at a mammoth 669 in their first innings, they left Leeds with more questions than answers.
The fifth Test now promises to be a blockbuster. With the series at 2-1 and momentum suddenly shifting towards the visitors, cricket fans across the globe await what could be a classic finish to an already unforgettable series.
