It was a long and draining day for India’s bowlers as England dominated with the bat in Manchester. Joe Root, the ever-reliable stalwart, anchored the innings with a majestic 38th Test century, guiding England past India’s first-innings total and giving them a crucial lead. On a pitch that seemed to flatten out, the English batters made scoring look effortless, with Root’s composure standing out throughout the day.
India’s pacers toiled tirelessly in the morning session, but their efforts yielded no reward. England added 107 runs in the session without losing a wicket, stretching India’s frustration as they headed into the lunch break. Amid the tension, Yashasvi Jaiswal tried to lighten the mood and lift team morale.
WATCH – Washington Sundar Strikes Late: Gill’s Delay Raises Eyebrows As Pope and Brook Fall
Caught on the stump mic, the young opener was heard encouraging his teammates with a chuckle, saying, “Come on, guys, let’s go,” before jokingly urging debutant Sai Sudharsan, “Macha! I need some English here. I want to hear some English from you, come on!”
Watch @ybj_19 get in the zone with some hilarious chirps caught live on stump mic! 🗣️🎙️#ENGvIND 👉 4th TEST, DAY 3 | LIVE NOW on JioHotstar 👉 https://t.co/l55AM1kN1p pic.twitter.com/XVzXl7YcpY
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 25, 2025
Post-lunch, Washington Sundar provided a glimmer of hope with two quick strikes. First, he broke Ollie Pope’s solid knock on 71, then dismissed Harry Brook for just 3. For a brief moment, it looked like India had clawed back into the contest. But England, led by Ben Stokes’ calm presence and Root’s sheer brilliance, quickly regained control.
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Just before tea, Root scripted history by overtaking Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest run-scorer in Test history. With a simple push to the offside, he crossed Ponting’s tally of 13,378 runs, triggering a standing ovation at Old Trafford. England went into tea comfortably placed at 433/4, firmly in control of the match.
Joe Root now trails only Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 15,921 Test runs — and with time on his side, the chase is well and truly on.
