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The stage is perfectly set at Headingley, Leeds, for a classic Day 5 Test match finish. With England needing 351 runs and all 10 wickets intact, the match is intriguingly poised. The target of 371, set by India, is massive by any stretch, especially on a pitch showing signs of wear and unpredictable bounce.
Rahul and Pant Lead the Charge
India’s imposing total was powered by a gritty 137-run knock from opener KL Rahul, who anchored the innings through testing spells. He found an able partner in wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant, who made history by becoming the second gloveman—after Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower—to score centuries in both innings of a Test match.
Pant’s fearless strokeplay added vital runs, frustrating the English attack and pushing the game just out of easy reach.
A Historic Chase Awaits England
No team has ever successfully chased a target as big as 371 in a 5-day Test at Headingley. The record chase here belongs to Don Bradman’s Australians, who hunted down 404 runs back in 1948 during a 6-day Test. Bradman’s unbeaten 173 that day remains the stuff of legends.
To do something similar, England will have to dig deep and make history.
Broad Backs Bumrah and India’s Bowling Unit
Former England pacer Stuart Broad has thrown his weight behind India, highlighting the impact Jasprit Bumrah could have on a cracking Day 5 surface. “They only need to create 10 opportunities,” Broad said on Sky Sports. “Getting through the new ball will be key for England, but India have to be favourites.”
He also emphasised the importance of India’s bowling tactics, saying skipper Shubman Gill must “use his bowlers smartly” and “whack the pitch as hard as they can.”
The Final Frontier Awaits
With history, pride, and momentum on the line, Day 5 promises edge-of-the-seat action. Will Bumrah unleash his magic again and script an Indian win, or will England defy the odds and achieve the unthinkable? As Headingley prepares for a grand finale, fans around the world are bracing for a finish that could go down in Test cricket folklore.
