Day 4 of the first Test at Headingley, Leeds, witnessed England once again making a comeback with the ball despite centuries from India’s batters, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. While the Indian pair put up an impressive 195-run partnership, a repeated lower-order collapse restricted them to 364 in their second innings, handing England a target of 371.
At stumps, England were 21 for no loss, with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett unbeaten after six overs. With all ten wickets left, the home team requires 350 runs on Day 5, while India needs all ten wickets for a win.
Earlier in the day, India resumed their innings with KL Rahul and Shubman Gill at the crease. But Gill departed early, falling to Brydon Carse. That dismissal brought together KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant at the crease.
Rahul (137) went to notch up his third Test century in England, now the most by any Indian opener in the country. Meanwhile, Pant hit 118 off just 140 balls, completing twin centuries in the Test (134 in the first innings). In doing so, he became only the second wicketkeeper in history, after Andy Flower, to score centuries in both innings of a Test match.
India’s lower-order disappoints once again
Despite India reaching 287/3 at one point, with a lead of over 300, they witnessed a collapse, losing the last seven wickets for just 77 runs. Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse cleaned up the tail, with the former picking three wickets in one over. Tongue ended with 3/72, while Carse walked back after 3/80. India’s lower order, Nos. 8 to 11, added just 9 runs across both innings.
England, chasing 371, will bank on their strong batting lineup and favorable batting conditions to get the job done. On the other hand, India will turn to Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Ravindra Jadeja to make an early impact and pick quick wickets on the final day.
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