England skipper Ben Stokes won the toss on Wednesday at Old Trafford and proactively chose to bowl first in the pivotal fourth Test against India . This marks his fourth consecutive toss win in the five-match series—a strategic edge England is keen to leverage.

With the series currently resting at 2–1 in England’s favour, Stokes’ decision is a direct challenge to the visiting Indian side. England’s side for the match includes spinner Liam Dawson, replacing Shoaib Bashir, reinforcing their bowling depth in the overcast Manchester conditions . India, meanwhile, have made three changes, with Sai Sudharsan, Shardul Thakur, and debutant Anshul Kamboj replacing Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, and Akash Deep .

The weather forecast suggests looming overcast skies, which could aid swing bowlers and make batting more challenging early on. Stokes’ tactical call appears aimed at exploiting these conditions and further consolidating England’s advantage.