NEW DELHI: India’s batting juggernaut rolled on in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy as the team not only salvaged a memorable draw in the fourth Test at Old Trafford but also etched its name across several pages of Test cricket’s record books.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!When Washington Sundar calmly raised his bat after completing his maiden Test century on the final day in Manchester, he wasn’t just celebrating a personal milestone — he was helping India equal one of their oldest Test records. His hundred was the 11th individual century by an Indian batter in this series, drawing level with the tally set way back during the 1978-79 home series against West Indies.
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From the very start of this five-Test epic, India’s batters have stood tall in hostile English conditions. Whether it was the youthful exuberance of Yashasvi Jaiswal, the experienced calm of KL Rahul, or the leadership of Shubman Gill, everyone has made their contributions count. The sheer number of big scores under pressure has helped India mount totals not often associated with touring sides in England.
In fact, India now hold the record for most 350-plus totals in a single Test series by any team. Their seven such scores have eclipsed Australia’s previous best of six, achieved thrice during their dominant Ashes campaigns in 1920-21, 1948, and 1989.The fourth Test also witnessed a rare statistical gem: it was the first time three Indian batters – Gill, Jadeja and Washington – scored centuries in the same second innings of a Test. Their composure and grit, especially after India had slumped to 0 for 2 in the first over, was a testament to the maturity this new generation of Indian batters has developed.Further underlining their dominance, India batted out five sessions without losing a wicket, the most by any team in a single Test match since Pakistan’s six-session resistance against Australia in 2022. For a team chasing a 311-run deficit, that kind of application was nothing short of remarkable.
India also became only the fourth team in their own Test history to avoid defeat after conceding a first-innings lead of over 300 — another marker of their fighting spirit.With the series still alive at 2-1 in favour of England and the final Test at The Oval looming, India not only have the chance to level the series but also to break more records — including setting a new benchmark for most hundreds in a single Test series.
