Leeds, June 23, 2025 – Day 4 of the first Test between India and England at Headingley delivered intense cricket, with India setting a daunting target of 371 for England. KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant led India’s charge with centuries, while England’s openers survived a tense final session, ending at 21/0, needing 350 more runs to win.
India started the day at 90/2, leading by 96 runs, with KL Rahul on 47 and Shubman Gill at the crease. England struck early when Brydon Carse got Gill (8) to drag one onto his stumps. Rishabh Pant joined Rahul, and the pair dominated, adding 195 runs for the fourth wicket. Rahul’s steady 137, packed with crisp drives, and Pant’s fiery 118 off 130 balls, with 13 fours and two sixes, took India to 333/4 by tea. Pant made history, becoming the first Indian to score centuries in both innings of a Test against England (134 in the first, 118 in the second).
England’s bowlers toiled on a pitch showing cracks and bounce. Shoaib Bashir and Josh Tongue tried hard, but Rahul and Pant were relentless. At lunch, India were 153/3, with a lead of 159, and they kept piling on runs. Pant’s aggressive knock also saw him tie the record for most sixes (nine) in a Test in England, matching Andrew Flintoff and Ben Stokes.
Post-tea, India’s innings crumbled dramatically. From 333/4, they lost six wickets for 31 runs, bowled out for 364. Josh Tongue triggered the collapse with a triple-wicket maiden, finishing with 3/72. Ben Stokes took 1/34, and Carse ended with 2/39. Ravindra Jadeja (24) and Shardul Thakur (5) pushed the lead past 350, but England clawed back into the game.
England’s chase began with 24 overs left. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj bowled with fire, but Zak Crawley (12 not out) and Ben Duckett (9 not out) held firm, taking England to 21/0 at stumps. The target of 371 is steep—Headingley’s highest successful chase is Australia’s 404 in 1948—but England’s “Bazball” style, seen in their 378/3 chase at Edgbaston in 2022, keeps them in contention.
With rain forecast for Day 5, the match could see interruptions. India need 10 wickets, while England need 350 runs. All outcomes remain possible, setting up a gripping final day.
