Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul sparkle with tons as India set England 371 to win first Test

In a thrilling encounter at Headingley, India set a formidable target of 371 runs for England to chase in the first Test match, following impressive centuries from Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul. Pant's performance was particularly noteworthy as he became only the second wicketkeeper in Test history to score two centuries in a single match. However, India's lower-order batting faltered dramatically in their second innings, reminiscent of their struggles in the first. Josh Tongue emerged as a key player for England, claiming three wickets in four balls, which significantly contributed to India's collapse, losing their last six wickets for just 31 runs. This collapse provided England with a glimmer of hope as they began their response, finishing the day at 21 runs without loss, with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett at the crease, both looking relatively untroubled against Jasprit Bumrah's bowling attack.

The challenge ahead for England is substantial, as they aim to achieve what would be their second-highest successful run chase against India and the second-highest at Headingley, surpassing the remarkable performance led by Ben Stokes in 2019 against Australia. The tension is palpable as the match approaches its climax, with England needing to overcome a daunting target while India seeks to leverage their bowling strength to secure a victory. As the players prepare for the final day of play, the outcome remains uncertain, promising an exciting finish to this closely contested Test match.