India Set 371-Run Target After Pant and Rahul Star in Leeds Test

For the fourth day of the first Test at Headingley, Leeds, on June 23, 2025, cricket fans were treated to a gripping contest between India and England. Resuming their second innings at 90/2, with a 96-run lead, India aimed to set a daunting target, while England hoped to strike early and keep the chase manageable.

Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul Take the Center Stage

India’s innings began with KL Rahul, unbeaten on 47, and captain Shubman Gill on 6. England’s bowlers, led by Brydon Carse, struck a blow when Gill, after adding just 2 runs, was bowled for 8, attempting an expansive drive. The score read 92/3, and England sensed an opening. However, Rahul, displaying immense composure, found a dynamic partner in Rishabh Pant, who walked in at No. 5. The duo forged a game-changing 195-run partnership, taking India’s lead past 200 by lunch. Rahul reached his fifty off 87 balls, while Pant, surviving an early DRS review, played with controlled aggression, reaching 50 off 83 balls with eight fours.

By lunch, India were 153/3, leading by 159 runs. The second session saw the Rahul-Pant stand blossom, with India racing to 200 in 57.4 overs. Rahul, anchoring the innings, notched his 10th Test century off 202 balls, laced with 13 fours, earning applause from the Headingley crowd. Pant, meanwhile, unleashed his trademark flair, smashing 100 off 130 balls, including 13 fours and two sixes. His century, India’s fifth in the match, broke MS Dhoni’s record for most runs by an Indian wicket-keeper in away Tests in SENA countries.

The pair’s 150-run stand came off 230 balls, pushing India’s lead past 250. At tea, India stood at 298/4, with Rahul on 120 and Karun Nair, replacing Pant after Shoaib Bashir dismissed him for 118, on 4. Pant’s dismissal, caught by Zak Crawley off Bashir, sparked a mini-collapse. Carse removed Rahul for a gritty 137, bowled through the gate, ending his 247-ball marathon. Nair, struggling for fluency, fell for 20 to Chris Woakes, who induced a return catch.

At 335/6, India’s lead was 341, but the lower order faltered. Shardul Thakur scored 4 before edging Josh Tongue to Joe Root at slip, and Tongue struck twice in two balls, dismissing Mohammed Siraj for a duck and Jasprit Bumrah for 0. Ravindra Jadeja, unbeaten on 25 off 40 balls with two fours and a six, held firm, but Prasidh Krishna’s 0 off 11 balls ended with a stunning catch by Tongue off Bashir. India were bowled out for 364 in 96 overs, setting England a target of 371.

England’s bowlers shared the spoils, with Carse (3/80) and Tongue (3/72) leading the charge. Bashir’s 2/90 included the prized scalp of Pant, while Stokes (1/47) and Woakes (1/45) chipped in. The new ball, taken at 80.1 overs, triggered India’s late slide, with the last six wickets falling for 31 runs. Despite the collapse, India’s lead, built on Rahul and Pant’s centuries, looked formidable, especially with the pitch showing signs of wear.

England’s Positive Start

England’s chase began late in the day, with 6 overs to negotiate before stumps. Openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett adopted a cautious approach against India’s potent attack. Bumrah, fresh off his 5/83 in England’s first innings, bowled a probing 3 overs for 9 runs, while Siraj conceded 9 in 2 overs. Jadeja, introduced early, bowled a tight over for 3 runs. Crawley, unbeaten on 12 off 25 balls with two fours, and Duckett, not out on 9 off 11, took England to 21/0, needing 350 more runs. With 98 overs scheduled for Day 5, England faced a steep challenge, but their ‘Bazball’ philosophy suggested they wouldn’t shy away.

The day belonged to India’s batsmen, particularly Rahul and Pant. Rahul’s 137, his highest Test score in England, showcased his ability to grind out runs under pressure, while Pant’s 118, his second ton of the match, underlined his match-winning potential. Their partnership frustrated England, who had started the day brightly but struggled to contain India’s middle order. Jadeja’s late cameo ensured the lead crossed 370, a target that, historically, is tough to chase at Headingley.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

Being the TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game, Josh Tongue’s triple-wicket maiden in the 91st over on June 23, 2025, at Headingley turned the tide for England against India. With India cruising at 349/6, leading by 341 runs, Tongue’s fiery spell sparked a dramatic collapse. First, he dismissed Shardul Thakur for 4, who flashed a full-length ball outside off to Joe Root at first slip, the edge fizzing through. On the next ball, Mohammed Siraj, cramped by a sharp short ball angled into his body, gloved a pull to keeper Jamie Smith, falling for a duck and hurting his hand as he walked off.

Tongue then completed the devastation by bowling Jasprit Bumrah for 0, a 139ks full-length rocket crashing through to knock the middle stump out. India’s collapse extended to 5/16, their lead still formidable at 349/9, but momentum firmly with England. Tongue’s figures of 3/60 in 16 overs showcased his pace and bounce, earning applause from the crowd. This over, a rare triple-wicket maiden, shifted the match’s complexion, giving England’s bowlers, led by Tongue and Brydon Carse, hope of restricting India’s target. With Ravindra Jadeja unbeaten on 10, India’s tail wobbled, setting up a thrilling final day.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Coming to the TCNI’s Hero of the Day, Rishabh Pant’s explosive 118 in India’s second innings on June 23, 2025, at Headingley turned the match firmly in India’s favour. With India at a shaky 92/3, leading by just 98 runs, things looked dicey after early losses, including Yashasvi Jaiswal (4) and Shubman Gill (8). Pant, walking in at No. 5, brought his fearless energy, surviving an early DRS scare to anchor the innings. Partnering with KL Rahul, who scored 137, Pant forged a match-defining 195-run stand.

His 100 off 130 balls, packed with 15 fours and three sixes, came at a strike rate of 84.28, showcasing his aggressive flair. This century, his second in the match after a first-innings 134, broke MS Dhoni’s record for most runs by an Indian wicket-keeper in away Tests in SENA countries. Pant’s knock, lasting 208 minutes, pushed India’s lead to 370, setting England a daunting 371 to chase. Though Shoaib Bashir dismissed him, caught by Zak Crawley at 287/4, Pant’s brilliance stabilised India when collapse loomed, ensuring a commanding position.

What Awaits on Day 5 of the Test Match?

As stumps were drawn, India held the upper hand, with England needing a miracle to chase 371. The pitch, offering turn and uneven bounce, favoured India’s bowlers, particularly Bumrah and Jadeja, who could exploit the rough patches.

England, however, has the firepower, with Root, Pope, and Brook capable of big scores. The final day promised a thrilling climax, with India eyeing their first win of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle and England banking on their aggressive approach to pull off an epic chase.