ENG vs IND, 2025, 1st Test, Day 4: Pant, Rahul tons help India set target of 371; England 21-0

ENG vs IND 2025, 1st Test Day 4, Highlights: Centuries from Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul set England 371-run target; hosts 21/0 at stumps.

Brief scores: IND 471& 364 (KL Rahul 137, Josh Tongue 3/72) lead ENG 465 & 21/0 (Zak Crawley 12*, Ben Duckett 9*) by 350 runs at stumps on Day 4. 

On Day 4 of the 1st Test at Leeds, India faced an early blow as captain Shubman Gill was dismissed cheaply. But a brilliant 195-run partnership between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant shifted the momentum, with Pant scoring twin centuries and Rahul his third century as an opener in England. Despite their efforts, India’s lower order collapsed again, losing six wickets for just 16 runs, keeping the contest alive going into the final day.

Rahul-Pant forge 50-run stand, India 153/3 at lunch
On Day 4, India reached 153/3 at lunch, extending their lead to 159 runs. The morning began with an early setback as captain Shubman Gill was bowled for just 8 after chopping an inside edge onto his stumps off Brydon Carse. However, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant steadied the innings with a composed 61-run partnership. Despite an early setback, India stayed steady as the duo thwarted England’s attack and pushed the lead past 150 by the session break. Rahul played a measured knock, reaching his half-century and going to lunch unbeaten on 72, despite being dropped at gully on 58. Pant supported him with a typically aggressive 31*, mixing caution with flair to keep the scoreboard ticking. 

Read More: ENG vs IND, 2025, 1st Test, Day 3: Game on knife-edge with India 96 ahead and 8 wickets in hand

KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant’s stunning tons pushes India’s lead to 304 by tea
India surged ahead on Day 4 of the first Test at Headingley, reaching 298/4 at Tea with a commanding 304-run lead. KL Rahul anchored the innings with a gritty unbeaten 120, bringing up his century after a patient 202-ball knock, while Rishabh Pant lit up the session with a blistering 118. Pant showed both sides of his batting, patient play and swashbuckling flair,  during his innings. The pair shared a vital 195-run stand at over five an over, seizing control of the game. Pant fell just before the break, but India remained dominant with Karun Nair joining Rahul at the crease.

India all out for 364 after tail fails to put up a fight, England 21/0 at stumps
India collapsed late on the day, getting bowled out for 364 after being 333/4, setting England a target of 371. KL Rahul led the charge with a resilient 137 off 247, but India lost six wickets for just 16 runs. Josh Tongue turned the tide with a sensational triple strike in the 91st over, removing Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah in four balls. Despite a strong position earlier, India’s collapse, left Ravindra Jadeja fighting alone and handed England a steep but chaseable target.

Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj went wicketless as England’s openers safely negotiated the final session, reaching 21 without loss at stumps on Day 4 in pursuit of a 371-run target.

Read More: Bumrah proving to be a one-man army for India in Tests; What’s ailing his support cast?

What to expect on Day 5
England need 350 runs to win with all 10 wickets in hand, chasing a target of 371. With rain forecast later in the day, England may look to score quickly in the morning session, which could open up chances for India’s bowlers to strike early. Jasprit Bumrah and the pace attack will be key in exploiting any movement off the pitch, which is showing signs of wear. The final day promises a tense finish, with the possibility of a result still alive, whether through a quick collapse, a bold chase, or rain forcing a draw.

Statistical Highlights from ENG vs IND, Leeds Test, Day 4

• Rahul & Pant combined together to produce the seventh 100+ partnership for the fourth wicket for India in the second innings against England in Tests.
• Rahul & Pant registered the highest fourth wicket partnership in the second innings for India against England.
• Rahul registered his 4th hundred against England in Tests.
• Pant becomes the first India player to register tons in both innings against England.
• Pant becomes fourth India India player with at least 4 Test hundreds in England. He joins Rahul Dravid (6), Sachin Tendulkar (4) & Dilip Vengsarkar (4).
• Pant joins Andy Flower to become only the second wicketkeeper-batter in Test history to register twin hundreds in a game.
• Pant now has the joint-most hundreds as wicketkeeper-batter in Tests in England.
• Rahul has three Test hundreds as an opener in England. That’s the most for an India opener in England, bettering Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar, Vijay Merchant & Ravi Shastri who have two each there.
• Pant hit 9 sixes in the Headingley Test. That’s the joint-most sixes in a Test in England, alongside Ben Stokes & Andrew Flintoff.

Read More: ENG vs IND, 2025, 1st Test, Day 2: Bumrah the lone fighter with 3-48; England 209-3 in reply to 471 

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