IND vs ENG 4th Test: Draw Feels Like A Win! Netizens Heap Praise On Jadeja-Washington After Dramatic Stalemate

IND vs ENG 4th Test: India pulled off a remarkable escape in the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, ending the final day with a morale-boosting draw that felt nothing short of a win. With Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar guiding India to safety, fans and experts alike lauded the duo's resilience, composure, and determination under pressure.

Starting the day still trailing England by over 100 runs, India's lower-middle order faced the challenging task of avoiding defeat. After KL Rahul and Shubman Gill had laid a solid foundation with their marathon partnership earlier, the baton was passed to Jadeja and Sundar post-lunch.

The two left-handers displayed immense grit as they not only blunted England's attack but also turned the tables by taking India into the lead during a wicketless session.

England opened the final day with a pace-spin combo of Jofra Archer and Liam Dawson. Both bowlers posed regular questions, with Archer getting unpredictable bounce and Dawson exploiting footmarks to turn the ball sharply. Yet, Jadeja and Washington stood firm. They were repeatedly beaten, struck on the pads, and tested by swing and spin, but never gave in.

As England rotated their bowlers-Carse, Root, and eventually a limping Ben Stokes-the pressure mounted. But India's duo kept calm. Stokes, battling discomfort in his shoulder and hamstring, tried short-ball tactics but to no avail. Instead, Washington counterattacked, launching a six and a four to bring up his fifty in style, followed by Jadeja who reached his half-century with a boundary.

India eventually moved into the lead, frustrating England further. With spin deployed from both ends, Jadeja and Washington brought up a century partnership, closing the session unbeaten and sealing the draw.

As the game ended in a stalemate, Indian fans celebrated the effort as a symbolic win, hailing Jadeja and Sundar for their heroics. Social media buzzed with praise, with many calling the fightback one of India's finest rear-guard acts in recent memory.

Here's a look at the fan reactions on X:-

''From 0/2 to 425/4, this wasn't just a comeback - it was a masterclass in resilience! Hundreds by Gill, Jadeja & Sundar, a gritty 90 by Rahul - India batted 143 overs on Day 4-5 at Old Trafford to grind out a legendary draw vs England. This draw feels like a win'', a fan wrote on X.

''I was asking 4 Indian batters to bat 100 balls. KL, Gill and Sundar played 200 plus balls while Jadeja played 185 balls. What an amazing effort and this was not a flat pitch at all'', another user wrote.

''If it is humanly possible, consider it to be within your reach. And they both showed us. Hats off to both Sir Jadeja and Washi Ati Sundar'', an user expressed.