Rain and Darkness Loom Over The Oval as Prasidh Krishna’s Late Strike reignites India’s Fire, Leaving England with 324 Runs to Chase for Series Glory.
London, England—August 3, 2025: Oh, the stress! Day 4 at The Oval has been a wild ride. The Test match battle was so intense that it left everyone breathless. Now, though, it’s on hold because of the darkening skies and the chance of rain. The umpires had to call for stumps just after India got a key, soul-stirring wicket: the great Joe Root. It looks like we’ll have to wait till tomorrow for a genuinely thrilling end to this amazing series.
As the day went on, the air was thick with excitement. Then, in a moment that could change the course of the match, Prasidh Krishna hit a huge stroke that sent Root back to the pavilion. This wicket gave India a rush of adrenaline, turning the tide back in their favor and giving them new hope for a triumph in what has been a very close finish. Root’s amazing century seemed to have put England on the verge of victory, but Krishna’s two quick wickets have changed everything.
Chase in England: From Dominance to Doubt
England’s quest for 374 started with an ambitious goal yesterday, and they kept that up today. Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope began the day with a goal: to reach that tough target. But the Indian bowlers, headed by the relentless Mohammed Siraj and the fired-up Akash Deep, kept going. Siraj, a master of precision, struck early, taking out Ollie Pope for the second time in the match. This was a massive wicket that really shook England and gave India the upper hand. Prasidh Krishna made another important breakthrough soon after, getting rid of the well-set Ben Duckett (54). This stopped England’s steady progress and sent the always-dangerous Joe Root to the crease.
Root had a great inning! He played with great calmness, quietly moving toward his century and holding England’s chase together with a calmness that only he has. While Root was building his famous knock, Harry Brook went on the attack, scoring an incredible half-century off just 39 balls and then turning it into a spectacular century. Root and Brook really turned the tide in England’s favor, making it harder for the Indian bowlers to do their jobs as the partnership grew stronger. At one stage, England was only 57 runs away from winning the series, and Root’s calm demeanor made them appear like they were in charge.
India’s Comeback: Krishna’s Magic and Gill’s Leadership
England seemed to be in control of the game, but Akash Deep came up and got rid of the dangerous Harry Brook, which was a big help. It was the tiny bit of hope that India needed so badly to go back in charge. Then came the moment that everyone will remember: Prasidh Krishna got the great Joe Root out, which was a big deal. The Indian fans’ cheers after that dismissal made it clear that the game was far from over.
The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series has been a thrilling and closely fought battle from start to finish, and we are now very close to its final conclusion. Day 4 made it plain what needed to happen: India needed to get nine more wickets, and England needed to score 324 runs. India might be the favorite, but England has a history of chasing down big scores against them, which adds to the suspense.
But this time, the surface at The Oval helped the Indian seamers a lot. This was a nice contrast from the flat, scorching conditions that let England win easily in the past, like at Headingley or Edgbaston years ago. This lush top and moderately gloomy sky offered the perfect stage for India’s pace attempt.
We all remember how Day 3 ended with a bang: Mohammed Siraj pulled off a tactical masterpiece, tricked Zak Crawley, and then bowled a superb yorker to knock down his off-stump on the last ball of the day. It was a wicket of great confidence, guided by captain Shubman Gill, who had clearly gotten into Crawley’s head and let his bowler do the job.
The Grand Finale is Coming: You Need Nerves of Steel
Now the question is: can India find that magical blend a few more times to get rid of England’s biggest threats, with Ben Duckett still at the crease and the rest of the English lineup? If they can, they’ll definitely turn their lead into a win that ties the series. But they need to be very careful. If the pitch flattens out and the English batters get a chance to swing their arms, they have the skill and the attitude to quickly take the match away.
Captain Shubman Gill has enough tools in his arsenal to win this Test match and tie the series at a very respectable 2-2 in his debut trip as captain. But India will have to be very precise: they will have to hold on to their catches, use their reviews judiciously, and make sure they don’t allow the English batsmen any easy balls to relieve pressure.
It has all the makings of a great final day, with the outcome of the series hanging in the balance, just like this amazing series deserves. Who will be able to keep their cool the best? We’ll find out tomorrow!
Day 4 Highlights and Important Events:
Joe Root scored a beautiful century, guiding England’s chase with a brilliant innings.
Joe Root got to a quiet, well-structured fifty, while Harry Brook kept attacking aggressively.
Harry Brook hit a half-century in just 39 balls, which gave England a strong lead at one point.
Mohammed Siraj hit Ollie Pope out for the second time of the contest with blazing accuracy.
Prasidh Krishna made a big difference by getting rid of Ben Duckett (54), which stopped England’s progress.
Then Prasidh Krishna dealt the largest blow by getting rid of Joe Root, which gave India new hope.
Play was stopped because of bad light and further rain, which made for an exciting finale on Day 5.