3 talking points from Day 1 of the 4th ENG vs IND 2025 Test ft. Rishabh Pant's injury

An engrossing day of Test cricket unfolded under cloudy skies in Manchester on Wednesday, July 23. At the end of the day's play, India, after losing yet another toss and being asked to bat first, found themselves at 264/4.

The ball nipped around throughout the three sessions, with the sun barely making an appearance. The visitors had to fight hard through tricky passages of play, with three batters falling in and around the 50-run mark to deprive the innings of an anchor from one end.

Nevertheless, the Test finds itself delicately poised after just one day. Shubman Gill and Co. will be worried about a couple of things outside their control, while England will know that they need to be ruthless on Day 2 if they are to further their series advantage.

On that note, here are three talking points from Day 1 of the fourth Test between India and England.

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#3 Sai Sudharsan makes his first Test half-century

England v India - 4th Rothesay Test Match: Day One - Source: Getty

Returning to the side following Karun Nair's poor form, Sai Sudharsan needed a score to his name. And he got just that in his third Test innings, making a calm half-century in challenging conditions.

Sai Sudharsan did get beaten on occasion, but he hung in there and was solid in defense for the most part. After getting a reprieve down the leg-side, the classy left-hander ensured that he gave India a solid score heading into the Tea break. He's clearly here to stay.

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#2 Shubman Gill disappoints for the third innings in a row

England v India - 4th Rothesay Test Match: Day One - Source: Getty

Shubman Gill has cooled off a bit since his record-breaking Test where he managed a century and a double century. He notched up his third failure on the trot on Day 1, creating a few concerns regarding his form at the most crucial juncture of the series.

Gill has long been susceptible to the incoming ball. Although he has made some technical tweaks to address that weakness, he was caught out by Ben Stokes in Manchester. The Indian captain shouldered arms to one that nipped back in and even burnt a review.

India will expect more from their captain, who is primed to become one of the world's best batters in the coming years.

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#1 What is Rishabh Pant's status?

England v India - 4th Rothesay Test Match: Day One - Source: Getty

Rishabh Pant was as unpredictable and dynamic as ever on Day 1 of the fourth Test between India and England. He charged down the track, tried to clear the infield, and attempted more than one reverse sweep against pace.

One of those proved to be his undoing. Chris Woakes' yorker took the inside edge of Pant's bat and crashed into his right boot, leaving his foot with a considerable amount of swelling and bleeding. The keeper-batter couldn't continue and had to be driven off the field on a cart.

Will Pant be fit to bat in the coming days? Will he be fit to keep? What kind of impact will the injury have on India's series? These are all immensely important questions that will hopefully be answered on Day 2.