It was an essay, carved out of grit, pain and strong character. Shubham Gill’s captaincy in the Old Trafford Test was ordinary. His century in the second innings was the atonement. It was his ninth century in Tests. Given the backdrop and the context, it was his best yet.
Finally, after spending six-and-a-half hours at the crease, Gill’s concentration betrayed him. Lunch on Day 5 was approaching and after being so disciplined for so many hours, the India captain chased a harmless delivery from Jofra Archer outside off to nick it to Jamie Smith behind the stumps. That felt like the game.
Gill’s 103 off 238 balls was a monumental effort. During the course, he brought his 700th run of the series. In nearly 150 years of Test cricket, only seven visiting batsmen have achieved the feat. The peerless Don Bradman did it twice.
Personal milestones, though, become somewhat meaningless if the team is not winning. But this could be the coming of age knock for Gill, who is only 25 years old.
Before the day’s play, Ben Stokes was seen marking his run-up. The England captain didn’t bowl on Day 4, which worked to India’s advantage. But here he was, ready to bowl again, much to his team’s delight.
The Day 5 pitch had woken up. Some deliveries were rearing off a length, while a few were keeping low. And Stokes was making things happen. He put an end to a 188-run third wicket partnership with a delivery that skidded off the surface and kept low. KL Rahul unfortunately couldn’t do much against it and it was so plumb that the opener decided to walk. By then, England had burned all their reviews, but it was a straightforward decision.
Rahul’s 90 off 230 balls was a testament to his class and resolve. He was unlucky not to get his hundred. Meanwhile, Stokes was feeling his hamstring and yet, every ball from him felt like an event. He made Gill drive uppishly to cover, but Ollie Pope dropped the catch. Gill was on 81 then and India 180/2.
England erred again on the field to give Ravindra Jadeja a reprieve first ball – Joe Root flooring a tough chance off Archer. India were on 222/4 then. Root dropped the match.
Rahul and Gill batted for 421 balls. Washington Sundar, at No. 5, and Jadeja picked it up from there.
For Washington, the unassuming boy from Chennai, he will remember his maiden Test hundred – 101 not out off 206 balls. When Stokes tried to bounce him out post-tea, Washington’s response was an emphatic pull over deep square-leg for a six. With Rishabh Pant ruled out of the fifth Test at The Oval, he should bat at No. 5.
Apart from his brilliant technique and steely resolve, Jadeja’s innings was a tactical masterclass. The veteran all-rounder revelled in his valour at Lord’s as well, but batting with the tail, his innings there was a tad one-dimensional. He couldn’t put the pressure back on the England bowlers. Here, he mixed caution with aggression right from the outset and kept the opposition guessing. Stokes couldn’t set an all-out attacking field and the Indian duo capitalised on that. He reached his fifth Test hundred, his second in England, off 182 balls. As far as this team is concerned, Jadeja is priceless.
Washington and Jadeja shared an unbroken 203-run partnership off 334 balls for the fifth wicket to eke out an unforgettable draw.
With 15 overs left, Stokes offered to shake hands. The Indians rightly declined. Both Jadeja and Washington were nearing their hundreds and they were well within their rights to go for the milestones. Also, with the final Test starting on Thursday, keeping the tired England bowlers on the field a little longer wasn’t a bad ploy at all, notwithstanding Stokes and Harry Brook’s play-acting. It actually stunk the place out.
England are still ahead in the series 2-1, but from India’s perspective, it was a fantastic jailbreak. It could well be the making of this young team.
Brief scores: India 358 and 425/4 (Shubman Gill 103, Ravindra Jadeja 107 not out, Washington Sundar 101 not out, KL Rahul 90; Ben Stokes 1/33) drew with England 669
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