Okay guys, that is it from the Day 2 blog of India vs England fourth Test in Manchester. Do join us for the third day on time and for more sports news keep following NDTV Sports. Goodbye. 

England end on a high at the end of play on Day 2. They trail India by just 133 runs with eight wickets in hand. The hosts could easily take a sizeable lead on Friday if they keep going like this. For India, it was a poor day on the field as overcast conditions made batting tough for them, and when they came in to bowl, the sun came out shining over the stadium. Not to take anything away from the England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, who capitalised on it and stitched 166 runs for the first wicket. 

It was a fuller ball from Anshul Kamboj and Joe Root drove it down the ground for a four. It was a textbook shot from the Test veteran. Mohammed Siraj ran behind from mid-on but the ball eventually won the race to the boundary.

ENG 220/2 (44.1)

Jasprit Bumrah bowled a good length delivery outside off-stump to Joe Root. The ball nipped in and hit Root on the back foot before the ball was collected by Dhruv Jurel behind the stumps. A huge appeal followed but umpire was unconvinced. India decided not to review it and it turned out to be a good decision. There was no edge while the impact was outside off-stump.

We are just 15 minutes away from Stumps. England have performed brilliantly so far and they just need to cap off the day on a similar note. On the other hand, India will aim to pick at least one more wicket to keep themselves motivated.

Anshul Kamboj has got the wicket of Ben Duckett. It was a short of length ball outside off stump and Duckett wanted to cut it away. He went for too much power in that shot but the surprising bounce on the ball saw him edge it to wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel. England are two down.  

Mohammed Siraj bowled a fuller ball on the pads of Ben Duckett on the first ball of the over and that was flicked away for a four. Duckett took a single on the fifth ball of the over to move to 89 off 94 balls. 

Ravindra Jadeja has struck!!! India finally get a breakthrough. The 166-run partnership has been broken as Jadeja has dismissed Zak Crawley. The right-handed edged the ball to KL Rahul at first slip. He is out on 84 off 113 balls.

ENG 166/1 (32) 

Having already crossed the 150-run mark without losing any wicket, England are right on top of this game. Zak Crawley is batting at the score of 78 while Ben Duckett is not out on 71. The duo is doing some incredible job here.

"If you are the bowling coach of this (Indian) side, you got reason to be very disappointed with the lines that the non-Bumrah bowlers bowled," said Sunil Gavaskar on-air while talking about India's bowling in this innings.  

15 runs came from the over of Ravindra Jadeja. That is such a poor introduction for spin in this game. Zak Crawley hit a six and two fours in the over. The England openers are now taking the game away from India's reach. 

Ravindra Jadeja started with a dot ball before Zak Crawley smashed him down the ground for a six. That is the first biggie of the England innings. To make it look worse, it was a no-ball from the India spinner and England get one extra run.

Mohammed Siraj is back into the attack, replacing Shardul Thakur. He started with a three-run over. The scoring rate of England has gone below 5 but they remain wicketless. Of late, the ball has been swinging and missing the outside edges of the bat but still no wicket for India.

Two fours were conceded in the over from Shardul Thakur. Zak Crawley hit the first one through the fine leg boundary while the second one went through the gap between the gully and slip fielders after it took an outside edge of Crawley's bat.

Zak Crawley smashed his fifty in 73 balls. He got there with a four through the gully on the fifth ball of the over from Shardul Thakur. Indian pacers are struggling now. The hosts are 249 runs behind India's total.

England crossed the 100-run mark in just 113 balls that too without losing any wicket. This is batting of highest quality. They are flying in style here and the credit duly goes to both its openers who have put on a show here. Is the Bazball back in this series?

Ben Duckett has smashed his half-century in just 46 balls. This is turning out to be a superb knock from the England opener. The pitch is flat and he is making the most out of it. England are scoring at a rate of over 5. This is terrific piece of batting, and that has pushed India completely on the back foot.

A fuller ball from Jasprit Bumrah on the pads of Zak Crawley and the right-handed batter has flicked it away for a four. Nothing stopping the England openers at the moment. Even the number 1 Test bowler is feeling helpless in these conditions.

ENG 96/0 (17.4)

Shardul Thakur brought the first over in the post Tea session. That also happened to be the first time in this innings that the all-rounder rolled his arms over. Ben Duckett is close to his fifty. He need only four runs to get there.

It is tea time on Day 2. England have scored 77 runs without losing any wicket that too with a scoring rate of 5.5. This is terrific piece of batting from the hosts. The pitch has become flat and with the sun out, there is no help for the Indian pacers and England openers have made the most out of it.

Fuller ball from Mohammed Siraj and Zak Crawley drove it down the ground for a four. That wa a superb shot from Crawley and he moves to 31 off 41 balls with that shot. India are on top against India at the moment. India need to do better for a comeback.

On the fifth ball of the over, a good length delivery nipped back in and hit Zak Crawley on the back leg. Since he has not offered any shot, there was a huge shout for an LBW. Umpire was unconvinced and India decided to review it only to waste one. The ball was found to be going over the stumps. 

There is not much swing for the Indian bowlers as the sun is out. It's really bright here at Old Trafford, Manchester. This are testing times for the Indian pacers as England are in complete control here. 

England have reached the 50-run mark in just 61 balls, courtesy Ben Duckett's fiery knock. He and Zak Crawley have provided the Three Lions a superb start here. India badly need a breakthrough to keep themselves motivated.

Ben Duckett is playing a quickfire knock here. He is batting on the score of 33 off 30 balls. England are well in control while India are still searching for the opening wicket. It is a tough test for the Indian pacers here.

A good length ball from Jasprit Bumrah rose abruptly from the surface and hit Zak Crawley on the fingers of his right hand. The batter took a single while shaking his hand in pain. He quickly took his hands of out of his gloves. The physio checks him and we are good to go now.

Ben Duckett slammed the Anshul Kamboj delivery really hard down the ground. It was a certain four had it travelled freely, but the ball hit Zak Crawley's bat at the other end and then ricocheted to the player at mid-on. No run on that ball.

Ben Duckett nearly hit the stumps with his bat. It was a short of length ball that nipped in. Duckett tried to play across and lost the hold of his bat. The bat flipped and fell just on the side of the stumps. It was such a close call!

Jasprit Bumrah has begun with a maiden over to Zak Crawley. And it is the debutant Anshul Kamboj from the other end. So no Mohammed Siraj with the new ball. Let's see how the debutant fares.

ENG 0/0 (1)

Jasprit Bumrah with the new ball in hand. Zak Crawley is on the strike. Ben Duckett is at the other end. Here we go... Bumrah starts with a short of length ball, angling into Crawley and it then shaped away.

Jofra Archer removes Jasprit Bumrah. It was a back of length delivery from Archer down the leg side. Bumrah tried to pull it but missed. Joe Root felt there was an edge and he convinced the captain to go upstairs. UltraEdge confirmed that there was a nick. India are all out for 358.

113.5 - Brilliant shot from Mohammed Siraj. Ben Stokes went for a yorker but failed to find his spot. Siraj cleared his front leg and smashed it down the ground for a four. India need to keep going like this as anything over 350 is a bonus.

IND 358/9 (114)

Rishabh Pant has been cleaned up by Jofra Archer. It was a terrific delivery from the England pacer. It was angling into Pant before it shaped out after pitching and hit the off-stump. Pant is out for 54 runs off 75 balls. India are nine down.

IND 349/9 (112.3)

A four on the off-side and Rishabh Pant races to his half-century with it. He gets there in just 69 balls. This is superb batting from the southpaw, who is severely injured yet continues to play for India. India are only two runs away from the 350-run mark.

Ben Stokes has dismissed Anshul Kamboj and that helps the England Test captain complete his five-wicket haul. It was a good length ball, angling into Kamboj before swinging away from the batter and taking an outside edge of his bat to the wicketkeeper. India are eight down.

Ben Stokes has got the wicket of Washington Sundar. It was a short ball from Stokes, into the body of Sundar. He cramped the batter for room and that saw Sundar pulling it into the hands of the fielder at deep square leg. India are seven down.

England have been trying to target Rishabh Pant's right foot that is injured. To fight it out, Pant has been keeping his right foot a bit across to save it. He is trying really hard to stay there at the middle for India. 

IND 336/6 (109)

Washington Sundar is lucky again! This time he went for a drive on a fuller delivery from Ben Stokes outside off-stump but got a healthy edge on that. The ball flew through the gap between slip and gully to run away for a four.

It was a good length delivery angling into Washington Sundar from Jofra Archer that straigtened after pitching. The ball hit the back pad of Sundar but umpire gave it not out over an LBW appeal. England decided to go upstairs. The ball-tracking suggested that it was hitting the stumps but the impact was on umpire's call. This saved Sundar.  

Ben Stokes bowled the first over in the post Lunch session. He conceded just a single on the final ball of the over to Washington Sundar. Meanwhile, Jofra Archer is back into the attack. He has replaced Brydon Carse.

Rishabh Pant was also taking singles after his return to the crease. It is hard to say yet whether he is fit enough to do that but this will give some added relief to India as strike rotation is possible and this will keep the scoreboard ticking.

Okay, so early Lunch has been taken on Day 2 due to rain. In the session, India lost two wickets and scored 57 runs. Ravindra Jadeja got out early on the day before Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar stitched a 48-run partnership. Shardul was dismissed by Brydon Carse and in walked Rishabh Pant to bat.

IND 321/6 (105)

It has started drizzling at the Old Trafford, Manchester. We have only 12 minutes remaining for the Lunch break to take place so the umpires must be hoping that the play is continued by then. For now, it is very light so the action continues.

Here comes Rishabh Pant...
A classy reception from the Emirates Old Trafford crowd pic.twitter.com/vBwSuKdFcW

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 24, 2025

Shardul Thakur is OUT! It was a fuller ball from Brydon Carse outside off-stump and Shardul went for a drive but ended up edging it to the fielder at gully. Shardul is out for 41 off 88 balls. India are six down and here walks in, Rishabh Pant!!! He gets a massive reception from the crowd.

India will be pleased with their performance so far in this innings that too after Rishabh Pant going out as retired hurt. The visitors have played 100 overs and scored 313 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. Shardul Thakur is close to his fifty while Washington Sundar is also solid at the crease. Note, even Pant could come out to bat if the team needs him, as per BCCI.  

Jofra Archer struck early on Day 2 to remove Ravindra Jadeja but the duo of Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur have shown great resistance after that. The pair has added 44 runs off 79 balls so far for the sixth wicket. India are in control of the game at the moment.

This is a massive boost for Team India. Rishabh Pant will be able to bat if needed, informed BCCI. "Rishabh Pant, who sustained an injury to his right foot on Day 1 of the Manchester Test, will not be performing wicket-keeping duties for the remainder of the match. Dhruv Jurel will assume the role of wicket-keeper. Despite his injury, Rishabh Pant has joined the team on Day 2 and will be available to bat as per team requirements," wrote the board on X.

Rishabh Pant, who sustained an injury to his right foot on Day 1 of the Manchester Test, will not be performing wicket-keeping duties for the remainder of the match. Dhruv Jurel will assume the role of wicket-keeper.
Despite his injury, Rishabh Pant has joined the...

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 24, 2025

A short of length ball from Jofra Archer, swinging away from Washington Sundar. It took an outside edge of teh bat but Sundar was lucky that the ball went through the small gap between fourth slip and gully for a four. That also sees India cross the mark of 300 runs.

While Shardul Thakur has been playing his shots, his fellow batter Washington Sundar is off to an extremely slow start. He is batting on 4 off 25 balls. Not the strike rate but the fact that Sundar has gone completely into a shell that too against a new ball is worrying. 

It was a short ball from Jofra Archer well away from Shardul Thakur. The ball bounced a lot and also swung on the leg side. Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith failed to get to the ball this time and it raced away to the fine leg fence for a four. Umpire signals a wide as well. It's five runs for India. 

IND 284/5 (90.4)

Just one run came off the over from Jofra Archer. England have conceded just 14 runs in the six overs that they have bowled today so far. The hosts took the second new ball at the start of play on Day 2 and have bowled well with it. 

Massive blow for India early on Day 2 as Ravindra Jadeja is out for 20 runs off 40 balls. Jofra Archer provides England the breakthrough. It was swinging away from Jadeja and he ended up getting an outside edge to it. The catch was taken at second slip.

Woakes starts the day with a maiden. England have taken the new ball now! Jofra Archer to get us underway from the James Anderson end. 

IND: 264/4

Chris Woakes to bowl the first over of the day! Overcast skies, second new ball available, Pant out with a broken toe, Jadeja and Shardul to resume India's first innings. England yet to take the new ball

According to news agency IANS, Rishabh Pant has expressed a strong desire to bat again in the ongoing Test, despite the evident discomfort. Despite being in a lot of pain and taking injections on the fractured foot in the hospital, Pant has nonetheless expressed a strong desire to return to bat in the ongoing match.

This agency also understands from sources that the decision would not be straightforward, as the medical team in Manchester has to make the final call in this matter. For now, it is understood that Dhruv Jurel, the reserve wicketkeeper-batter, will take up keeping duties in Manchester.

Pant's desire to bat again despite the fracture is typical of his approach in the face of sheer adversity. Another well-placed source told IANS that the first challenge for Pant is to put a shoe on the fractured foot and then put body weight on it, which makes it very tough for him to take the guard and then resume batting.

Ten minutes from the start of day two. India will hope that there tail contribute a bit with the bat. No rain as of yet. It is currently bright and sunny over Old Trafford. However, there is a prediction of light drizzle after Lunch. As things stand, the action will start in time.

Pant's injury leaves India with 10 men. With four days of cricket left at Old Trafford, the Indian team management had asked the medical team to check if Pant can bat after taking a painkiller if the need arises. However, the player has been advised not to put pressure on his fractured toe, according to a report in The Indian Express.

Much like the rule that allows teams to make a fully functional substitute in case of concussions, former England captain Michael Vaughan has asked for such a law to be introduced in case of serious first innings injuries too.

"Clear and obvious injuries in the first innings of Tests we should allow like for like Subs .. we have concussion subs so surely we can have subs for injuries like Rishabh's," he posted on X (formerly Twitter).

While it's fair to say that Pant's part in the first innings of the Manchester Test is over, he can still feature in the 2nd innings. But, for that to happen, he needs to get medical clearance. With a facture on a toe, however, it will be tough.

As per a report, the chances of Rishabh Pant batting in the Manchester Test aren't 0%. While medical advice plays a key role, Pant can still play a role in this match.

"At the moment, he's unable to put pressure on his foot - as everyone saw, he was carted off the ground yesterday. But he's determined, and knowing him, he might still come out to bat, who knows. That said, much will depend on the medical advice, not just his intent," a report in Cricbuzz quoted a source as saying.

The management's decision to risk Pant despite him bruising his finger at Lord's has come back to haunt them. While they can replace him with Dhruv Jurel to keep the wickets, the same can't be said when it comes to batting. They will have to bat with a man less if Pant doesn't show up.

While Pant's ouster adds to the problems for the team which is trailing 1-2 right now, it also gives Ishan Kishan a shot at redemption, if he is indeed recalled as cover. Kishan, who recently played two County matches for Nottinghamshire, was also a part of the India A squad that faced the England Lions ahead of the Test series, though the 26-year-old did not appear in any of the two matches.

Rishabh Pant has been ruled out for the remainder of the series, including the ongoing Test. Pant retired hurt at 37 and went for scans after copping a blow on his right foot while attempting a reverse sweep off England pacer Chris Woakes on Wednesday. As per various reports, He is ruled out for the next six weeks. Ishan Kishan will be called in as cover

Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of Day 2 of the 4th Test between India and England from Manchester. India, who were 264/4 at stumps on Day 1, received a major blow ahead of the start of play on Day 2.