India Openers Steady at 78/0 Lunch in Fourth England Test

On the opening day of the fourth Test between India and England at Old Trafford, India made a confident start, reaching 78 runs without losing a wicket by lunch. England captain Ben Stokes chose to bowl first under overcast conditions, a decision that defied the historical trend at Old Trafford where no team bowling first has won. India's openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal showed discipline and resilience, with Rahul unbeaten on 40 and Jaiswal on 36, carefully navigating the English bowling attack, particularly the probing spells from Chris Woakes. Despite some luck on the pitch as edges from Jaiswal failed to carry, the openers effectively balanced caution and aggression, helping India survive the challenging conditions. England, leading the five-match series 2-1, struggled to make breakthroughs in the first session, while India benefited from strategic batting and a solid start. The match continued with India well-positioned after a steady opening session.