India Piles on the Pressure with 371-Run Lead

Day 4 at Headingley wasn’t short on drama or grit, especially after the ground’s infamous clouds cleared and let the cricket take center stage. India walked out in the morning with Shubman Gill and KL Rahul carrying the hopes of stretching the lead. That hope looked well-placed for just a brief stretch. Gill looked confident, stroking a few classy boundaries, but his dismissal with just 23 added to his overnight score opened the gates for England.

The early stages saw KL Rahul anchoring the innings as wickets tumbled at the other end. Yet, he stayed patient, played late under the overcast English skies, and notched up a crucial hundred. It was Rahul’s knock—calm, collected, and occasionally defiant—that really laid the foundation for India’s total.

Enter Rishabh Pant. Where Rahul worked over the bowlers, Pant took the fight right to them. He doesn’t do quiet; he does chaos. His lightning-quick century came with sweeps, reverse sweeps, and that down-the-track confidence that’s so very “Pant.” While wickets kept tumbling—India slipped from a solid platform to the sort of collapse you almost expect on a spicy Headingley wicket—Pant’s attack pushed the target beyond comfortable reach for the hosts.

• KL Rahul made a composed century.
• Rishabh Pant fired a swashbuckling hundred, disrupting the home side’s rhythm.
• Late cameos were brief as England’s bowlers, led by Mark Wood and Joe Root, snatched quick wickets late in the session.

The all-round spark in the lower order came from Jasprit Bumrah, who keeps proving he’s not just a one-trick pony. Bumrah’s runs added those tricky extra few that change team talks in the dressing rooms.

Crawley and Duckett Stand Guard in England’s Monumental Chase

The hosts, handed a formidable 371-run target, knew the real test would start under the late-evening glare with the new ball in hand. England’s openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett strolled out with steely faces and managed to keep the Indian bowlers at bay before stumps. By the end of Day 4, they were unbeaten on 21 for no loss—not jaw-dropping numbers, but in the context, every run feels like a small rebellion against India’s stronghold.

The session had its tense moments. Ravichandran Ashwin spun some sharp ones, Bumrah’s pace teased the outside edge, and there was an almost-catch that had the Indian cordon on their feet. But the openers stuck to the basics—leaving balls outside off, respecting the good ones, and sneaking singles when possible.

The forecast that threatened early rain faded into the background, giving us an uninterrupted day that built the tension toward a potentially dramatic finish. England faces a daunting chase, needing plenty of composure as the pitch starts to misbehave and India unleashes their spinners. On the other side, India will be banking on early breakthroughs with the new ball and the footmarks opening up for Ashwin and Jadeja on Day 5.

Don’t blink—the fifth day could swing either way, and Headingley’s notorious for wild finishes. All eyes are on whether England can pull off what would be one of their greatest chases, or if India’s bowlers tighten the screws further in a fierce contest.