Yashasvi Jaiswal endured a testing passage of play during the opening session of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, as Chris Woakes repeatedly troubled the young Indian opener with deliveries that nipped back sharply off the seam. Unlike KL Rahul, who looked relatively composed at the crease, Jaiswal appeared unsettled, particularly against Woakes, whose persistence almost paid dividends early.

The most dramatic moment came in the ninth over of India’s innings. Woakes, known more for his precision than raw pace, bowled the fifth delivery of his over, a length ball that jagged back into Jaiswal. The batter attempted a shot but misjudged the movement, resulting in the ball striking high on the bat. To everyone's surprise, the bat snapped in two, with the handle and blade separating on impact, although replays suggested the blame may not rest solely with the bowler. Jaiswal seemed to have held the bat with a loose, elevated grip, which likely contributed to the breakage.

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