Rishabh Pant’s record-breaking century in both innings keeps India alive in the Leeds Test, setting new milestones and boosting the team’s chances.
New Delhi: In the first Test match being played at Headingley, India has given England a strong target of 371 runs to win. As the fourth day’s play began, the match reached an exciting stage with England at 21 for no loss, needing 350 more runs to take the lead in the five-match series.
India’s Innings: Rahul and Pant’s Brilliance
Resuming the day on 90 for two, India lost captain Shubman Gill early. However, the duo of KL Rahul (137 runs off 247 balls) and Rishabh Pant (118 runs off 140 balls, with 15 fours and 3 sixes) added a magnificent 195 runs for the fourth wicket, putting their team in a strong position.
Pant’s centuries in both innings not only gave India a strong lead but also created a unique record, making him the first Indian batsman to score centuries in both innings of a Test in England. He also became only the second designated wicketkeeper in Test history to achieve this feat. However, both batsmen were dismissed while trying to add quick runs. In the lower order, Ravindra Jadeja also contributed quick runs to strengthen the team’s total.
England’s Bowling and The Road Ahead
For England, Josh Tongue (3/72), Brydon Carse (3/80), and Shoaib Bashir (2/90) played crucial roles in dismissing the Indian innings. Now, England faces a massive target. India needs to get early wickets to win the match, as England is one of the most destructive batting sides among all WTC teams. The fourth day of the match will be crucial, where pitch and weather conditions will be important for both teams. It will be interesting to see whether England can withstand this pressure and chase the target or if the Indian bowlers will maintain their hold.
