IND vs ENG: Will India's 89-year drought of victory in Manchester end? Will Gill be able to surpass Gavaskar and Dhoni?

Posted on 19th Jul 2025 by rohit kumar

The fourth Test of the five-match series between India and England will be played from July 23 at Old Trafford in Manchester. The English team is currently leading the series 2-1. After winning matches at Headingley and Lord's, Ben Stokes and Co.'s confidence is high. At the same time, the young Team India, led by Shubman Gill, will be looking to make a comeback. However, the comeback will not be easy for the Indian team, as it is facing England on a field where we have never won a test. India played Tests in Manchester under the leadership of one great captain after another, but could not win. Now Gill has a chance to create history. He has a chance to leave behind captains like Sunil Gavaskar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

 

India has played a total of nine Tests at Old Trafford in Manchester so far. Out of this, England has managed to win four Tests, while five Tests have been drawn. Team India has a great chance to break this streak of defeat and draw, and a win will make the series interesting. If India manages to equalise 2-2 in Manchester, then there will be pressure on England. Then, everything will be decided by the fifth Test, which will be held at Kennington Oval on July 31. Team India had a similar record at Edgbaston in Birmingham, but Gill's team was successful in creating history. Now, once again in Manchester, the Indian team will try to put in its full strength.

 

A young team led by Gill is touring England. No cricket pundits had named India as the favorite for this series. However, Team India has surprised in all three Tests so far. It has given a tough fight to the experienced English team. At Headingley, the mistake of one session led to defeat, while at Lord's the failure of the batsmen in the fourth innings caused a loss. Team India has shown a lack in some departments, and the team management would like to correct it before the fourth Test. India has so far played in Manchester under the leadership of Vijaynagaram (1936), Nawab Pataudi Senior (1946), Vijay Hazare (1952), Dutta Gaekwad (1959), Ajit Wadekar (1971 and 1974), Sunil Gavaskar (1982), Mohammad Azharuddin (1990), and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (2014). Gill will be the ninth captain to captain on this ground. India had drawn Tests at Old Trafford in Manchester in 1936, 1946, 1971, 1982, and 1990. Meanwhile, England managed to win in 1952, 1959, 1974, and 2014.

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