One of the least acknowledged aspects of Test cricket is its sheer physical toll. The Old Trafford Test served as a powerful reminder of this. Had this been a three-match series, the narrative might have offered India an honourable 2-1 defeat — one that could’ve swung their way with a touch more luck or ruthlessness. But the reality of a five-Test series exposed deeper truths, especially about physical resilience.
By the fourth Test, India’s attack had started to show signs of wear. The pace of their strike bowlers had dipped, and their injury replacement failed to make an impact. Meanwhile, England — after early fortune — now looked fitter, sharper, and more durable. Their conditioning, while not significantly superior, was enough to start tipping the scales.
India’s batters had one final opportunity to alter the script. Ben Stokes might believe pain is just an emotion, but India had a chance to make his teammates physically feel the weight of a long Test series played out on unyielding, flat pitches. However, things began badly. India lost two wickets in the first over of their second innings, including their best batter of the last five years, who was sidelined with a broken foot.
Despite the shaky start, India had a rare ally — a pitch that was dying slowly, offering a glimmer of hope for survival. Batting out five sessions in modern cricket is an outdated art, especially with a deficit of 311 runs. It demanded mental discipline, patience, and an ability to slow the game down to a crawl — ball by ball, without urgency or counterattack.
India needed only four batters to negotiate the 875 balls that separated them from a draw. KL Rahul was one of them. Long viewed as a talented but inconsistent player, Rahul had never scored 400 runs in a series or more than one hundred in a single campaign. Much of his previous success came early in tours, fading away as series progressed. Yet this time, he stood tall. His 230-ball effort didn’t hinge on milestones. He was so immersed in survival mode that he didn’t even notice a misfield late on Day 4. The highlight of his knock? Forcing Ben Stokes to risk a torn bicep and produce a near-unplayable delivery to dismiss him.
At the other end, Shubman Gill — in the form of his life, but under the microscope as captain — silenced his critics with actions, not words. Amid questions about team selection, use of bowlers, and leadership decisions, he let his bat do the talking. Gill weathered 238 deliveries in his slowest Test hundred, calm and composed. When Liam Dawson targeted the rough against Washington Sundar, Gill shielded the young batter by taking on the left-arm spin himself — a small but significant leadership gesture.
Washington, promoted due to Rishabh Pant’s injury, showed exactly why the management is so invested in his potential. His innings wasn’t built for highlight reels, but for endurance. Alongside Ravindra Jadeja — India’s premier allrounder — the pair defied England’s bowlers for more than two sessions, surviving 55.2 overs together. Jadeja, who crossed 1000 runs and 30 wickets in England, and Washington, who finally notched his maiden Test century after earlier heartbreaks, were relentless.
By the end, the physicality had flipped. England — who once looked the fresher side — were now exhausted. They even seemed eager to leave the field with 15 overs left. India, conversely, had a full roster of fit pacers once again, and fortune turned their way with three dropped catches that proved critical.
Now, India has a chance to level the series 2-2. Given how the pendulum has swung, that seems like a just result. And perhaps, most importantly, it’s a blessing this wasn’t a three-Test series. The real story — of resolve, pain, and physical courage — would have gone untold.
