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The afternoon belonged entirely to Joe Root and Harry Brook, whose blistering 195-run partnership looked to have taken the game away from India. Brook, batting with flair and aggression, hammered a 98-ball 111, while Root’s composed 105 was his third century of the series and 13th against India. At tea, England were cruising at 317 for four, needing just 57 runs.
But post-tea, India’s pacers came roaring back. Prasidh Krishna struck twice — first uprooting Jacob Bethell and then removing Root caught behind — while Siraj’s effort ensured that Brook’s wicket before the interval wasn’t in vain. The old ball suddenly came to life, with carry and seam movement troubling the English batters. The scoreboard nearly stalled, with just 22 runs added in the final session before play was stopped.
Earlier in the day, Siraj had set the tone with a fiery morning spell that helped reduce England to 164 for three by lunch. He trapped Ollie Pope lbw and tested Duckett with pace and movement. Prasidh Krishna also impressed, removing Duckett early and pushing Brook with smart changes in pace and line.
India’s energy dipped in the middle session, as Brook’s attacking game and Root’s grace punished anything loose. Brook was handed a life when Siraj stepped on the boundary ropes after taking a catch at fine leg, a moment that seemed to break India’s spirit temporarily.
However, the final session flipped the narrative. With the pitch spicing up again and overcast skies looming, India’s bowlers found their rhythm. England will resume needing 37 more, but with only four wickets in hand and India eyeing the new ball, Day 5 promises a tense finish that could define the entire series.
