India’s top-order made a solid start on the opening day of the fourth Test of Anderson-Tendulkar trophy in Manchester, but England clawed their way back in the second session thanks to tight bowling and key breakthroughs. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal impressed early on, but Liam Dawson's fairytale return and Ben Stokes' timely strike tilted the balance slightly in England’s favour by tea.
Dawson’s Dream Comeback Ends Jaiswal’s Gritty Stay
Liam Dawson, playing his first Test since 2017, made an immediate impact with the ball. Brought in for the injured Shoaib Bashir, Dawson dismissed the well-set Yashasvi Jaiswal with just his seventh delivery — a sharply pitched ball that found the edge, safely pouched by Harry Brook at slip.
It marked a triumphant return for the left-arm spinner, who celebrated with visible joy. Dawson finished the session with figures of 1/21 from seven controlled overs, underlining the value of experience and patience in England’s spin ranks.
England Hit Back in Afternoon After India’s Strong Start
After a wicketless morning, England responded with three important wickets in the post-lunch session. Chris Woakes broke the opening stand by removing KL Rahul for 46, drawing an edge to third slip. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s fighting 58 was cut short by Dawson, and captain Shubman Gill’s puzzling leave cost him dearly as Ben Stokes trapped him lbw for 12 just before the tea break. India’s solid 94-run opening stand unravelled quickly, leaving the match finely poised.
KL Rahul Joins Elite Club with 1000 Test Runs in England
KL Rahul etched his name into the history books by becoming just the fifth Indian batter to reach 1,000 Test runs in England. He joined the legendary quartet of Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Virat Kohli. Rahul brought up the milestone with a stylish boundary off Chris Woakes, showing the same fluency and late hands that have served him well on English soil. His record stands out for consistency and adaptability over multiple tours.
Jaiswal’s Consistency Shines Again
Yashasvi Jaiswal continued his prolific form against England, notching his eighth 50-plus score in just 16 innings versus them. Battling gloomy overhead conditions and a disciplined English attack, he mixed caution with aggression to anchor India’s innings through the first half of the day. His dismissal just before the drinks break in the second session, however, handed England a much-needed breakthrough and shifted the momentum slightly in their favour.
Historic Opening Session For Rahul-Jaiswal Pair
KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal became the first overseas pair in the last decade to bat through the opening session of a Test in England (minimum 20 overs). This feat had previously been achieved only by Australia’s Chris Rogers and David Warner at The Oval in 2015. Among English pairs, only Burns-Sibley (2021) and Crawley-Duckett (2025) have matched that effort, highlighting the rarity of what Rahul and Jaiswal accomplished under testing conditions.
Lancashire Honours Lloyd And Engineer At Old Trafford
Off the field, Lancashire marked a special occasion by renaming the historic 'B Stand' to honour two club legends — Sir Clive Lloyd and Farokh Engineer. The announcement was made in their presence, with the duo lauded for their contributions to the Red Rose during a golden era in the 1970s. Lancashire chair Andy Anson called them his childhood heroes and said the gesture is a fitting tribute ahead of a marquee Test match.
