From domination to danger: India’s 364 all-out leaves them nervously hunting 10 wickets

England ended the penultimate day of the first Test at Headingley on 21 without loss, still 350 runs short of their 371-run target, leaving India requiring just 10 wickets on the final day to seal victory.

India had earlier posted 364 in their second innings, reducing England’s target to a chase few thought possible. The tourists’ lower order collapsed rapidly from 349 for six to 364 all out, undone by a hostile pace attack spearheaded by Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue and Chris Woakes.

Carse struck first to dismiss KL Rahul for 137, bringing an end to a marathon innings that had kept India firmly on top. Tongue then returned to claim three quick wickets, and Woakes added two more to wrap up India’s resistance.

The day had begun in India’s favour after a superb recovery by Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul. The pair added 195 for the fifth wicket, with Pant scoring a flamboyant 118 and Rahul compiling 137. Their counter-attacking partnership followed the early loss of Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, and put India in a commanding position before the tail was cleaned up in just five overs.

When England resumed, openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett showed disciplined defence, both surviving an initial barrage of short-pitched bowling and capitalising on loose deliveries. Crawley raced to 12 with two successive boundaries off Mohammed Siraj, while Duckett was unbeaten on 9, ensuring England reached stumps without further damage.

Former England paceman Stuart Broad tipped India as favourites on the final day, pointing to the worn Headingley surface and the prospect of a fresh new ball as decisive factors. “India only need to create 10 opportunities and take their catches,” he said, adding that cracking the pitch on day five would play into India’s hands.

Former India coach Ravi Shastri also praised Pant’s second-innings knock, saying it showed both flair and “a sharp cricket brain” in knowing when to attack. Pant’s century – his second of the match – underlined India’s dominance with the bat even as their lower order faltered.

India has rarely failed when defending totals of 350 or more, winning 42 of 59 such Tests and losing only once. With just one full day’s play remaining, Shubman Gill’s men remain in complete control, needing 10 wickets to record a first‐innings triumph and take a 1–0 lead in the series. England, meanwhile, must survive the new ball period before attempting what would be one of the great Bazball chases in Test history.

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