The fourth Test between England and India at Old Trafford ended in a draw, but not before a dramatic final day sparked by resilient Indian batting and strategic decisions from England captain Ben Stokes. India, after conceding a large first-innings lead, fought back to secure a draw, largely thanks to centuries from Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar.

With the draw imminent in the final session, Stokes offered a handshake to Jadeja and Sundar, signaling his willingness to end the match. However, with both batsmen nearing their centuries, they declined the offer, choosing to continue batting. Stokes later revealed that his primary motivation for offering the draw was to protect his bowlers from potential injuries, particularly with one more Test to go in the series. He acknowledged that India had earned the draw through their strong performance. Stokes said, "I think all the hard work was done by India, they both played incredibly well,".

Ravindra Jadeja's century was his fifth in Test cricket. He has been in remarkable form, proving his invaluable role in the Indian team. His composed innings on Day 5 helped India move closer to a draw. Jadeja's consistent performance in overseas conditions is noteworthy, with a number of significant scores in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia).

Washington Sundar also reached his maiden Test century. Sundar's century was a "sensational knock" after being promoted up the order. Both Jadeja and Sundar batted with clear intent, frustrating the English attack.

The decision by Jadeja and Sundar to play on was met with mixed reactions. Some observers felt that England's subsequent bowling tactics lacked respect for the opposition. After Stokes' offer was declined, England resorted to bowling part-time bowlers like Harry Brook, who appeared to be simply going through the motions. Former England batter Jonathan Trott criticized these tactics, stating that there is a way to play the game with respect for the opposition. There was also a remark caught on the stump mic, attributed to Stokes, "Jaddu, do you want to get a Test 100 against Brook & Duckett?".

Despite the draw, Ben Stokes praised the "high-quality cricket" played between England and India throughout the Test. He specifically mentioned the importance of Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett's opening partnership in setting up England's strong first innings. Stokes acknowledged the back-and-forth nature of the series, with both teams "throwing punches".

Shubman Gill also contributed a century for India, his fourth of the series. KL Rahul fell short of a century, dismissed for 90. Ultimately, India batted for over five sessions to save the Test. The series stands at 2-1 in favor of England, with the final Test to be played at The Oval.