Arjit - Sunday, Jul 20, 2025ENG vs IND Test: India's tour of England 2025 is now reaching its decisive phase. The fourth match of the five-match Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy Test series will be played at Old Trafford in Manchester. England have taken a 2-1 lead in the series after defeating India by 22 runs in the third Test at Lord's. In such a situation, this match is a 'do or die' for the Shubman Gill-led Indian team if they want to stay in the series and take it to the decisive fifth Test.
Match: England vs India, 4th Test
Series: India tour of England 2025 (5 Test series - Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy)
Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 to Sunday, July 27, 2025
Time IST: 3:30 PM (15:30 IST) / Local Time (UK): 11:00 AM
Stadium: Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, England
Broadcaster (India) TV: Sony Sports Network (Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 3, Sony Sports Ten 5)
Live Streaming: JioCinema app and website
Live Score: Possible11, Cricbuzz (Cricbuzz), ESPNcricinfo and other major cricket websites.
England: England won a thrilling encounter at Lord's, where their bowlers performed brilliantly to prevent India from chasing the target of 193 runs. The team's "backball" approach under the captaincy of Ben Stokes remains strong and they are taking full advantage of the home conditions. Jofra Archer's return to the team has added more edge to their fast bowling. Shoaib Bashir has been ruled out due to injury, replaced by 35-year-old spinner Liam Dawson, who could prove effective in the spin-friendly conditions at Edgbaston. England will look to win this match and seal the series.
India: The Lord's loss was heartbreaking for India, especially when they needed only 193 runs to win. The batsmen looked in rhythm, but crumbled under pressure in the fourth innings. There is still a question mark over Jasprit Bumrah's availability, although the assistant coach has indicated that he could play in the Manchester Test, with the series at stake. Akash Deep is also suffering from a back problem and is likely to be ruled out. In such a situation, the challenge will be to further strengthen the Indian fast bowling attack. Arshdeep Singh is also doubtful due to a hand injury. Karun Nair may get a chance, as India will want to strengthen their batting further. Kuldeep Yadav may also get a chance on the Old Trafford pitch, which could be helpful for spin. India will have to unify their bowling unit and the batsmen will have to perform better under pressure to make a comeback in the series.
The Old Trafford pitch usually offers good bounce and pace to the fast bowlers, especially in the early days of the match. As the match progresses, this pitch also becomes helpful for the spinners, especially in the middle overs. Former English captain Michael Atherton has also advised India to consider playing with three spinners at Old Trafford, as wrist spinners can be effective here. The weather will also play an important role, as Manchester is often rainy and cloudy, which can give swing to the fast bowlers.
For fantasy cricket lovers, here are some important picks and tips:
This match is extremely crucial for the result of the series. England will be full of confidence with their home conditions and a 2-1 lead. It will be a tough challenge for India, especially due to the injury concerns of key fast bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep. However, the Indian team has the ability to bounce back but they need to perform in unison.
Our Prediction: England can win this fourth Test match and seal the series. India will need an exceptional performance to make a comeback.
