Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja batted out more than two sessions to bring back India from the brink of a decisive defeat and pull off a draw for the ages here on Sunday, keeping the intensely fought series well and truly alive heading into the finale at The Oval.Having conceded a 311-run lead and lost their openers for duck in the second innings, India displayed a steely resolve to get a favourable result largely due to the efforts of captain Shubman Gill (103 off 238), KL Rahul (90 off 230), Jadeja (107 not out off 185) and Washington (101 not out off 206).With inspirational England skipper Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer removing a well-set Gill and Rahul in the morning, England sensed a series-sealing victory but Jadeja and Washington hung in there before milking the bowlers towards the end of the day.Just before the start of last hour of play, Ben Stokes expressed his desire to end the game but India decided to carry on with Washington and Jadeja closing in on deserving hundreds. Stokes was clearly not amused.Harry Brook started to offer freebies to Jadeja and Washington as a sign of disapproval for India’s decision to carry on playing. Players finally shook hands after the milestones of Jadeja and Washington were achieved with the latter scoring his maiden Test hundred.The day five track did not have many demons with prominent movement and a bit of variable bounce was visible in the morning session when Gill and Rahul got out after a 188-run stand.Considering the match situation, the dogged resistance from the two India left-handers in the second and final session was reminiscent of R Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari’s match-saving stand in the Sydney Test of 2021.Nursing a broken foot, Rishabh Pant was available to bat in the second innings but did not need to come to the middle and risk aggravation of his injury.Strikingly, it was England’s only second draw in the 40 Tests played in the Bazball era with the last one coming also at Old Trafford during the 2023 Ashes (weather was the main factor behind the draw).The surface here has been on the drier side through the domestic season with four games producing as many draws.With both sides struggling to keep their fast bowlers fit in a long and gruelling series, it would be interesting how many of the first choice pacers take part in the fifth Test beginning in London from July 31.At tea, India were 322 for four after collecting 99 runs from a wicket-less afternoon session.Stokes, who looked lethal in his eight-over spell in the morning, could not keep up the intensity in the three overs he bowled in the second session.
Shubman Gill falls after gutsy hundred as India reach 223 for 4 at lunch
