At Headingley, Leeds, England secured a stunning five-wicket victory over India, chasing a formidable target of 371 in just 82 overs—the second-highest successful fourth-innings chase in English Test history.
Ben Duckett spearheaded the charge, registering a brilliant 149 in the second innings after contributing 62 in the first. Duckett’s remarkable day‑five performance earned him the Player of the Match accolade. His innings included audacious reverse sweeps and bold strokes against the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja .
Zak Crawley added a solid 65 to set the tone, while Joe Root (53*) and Jamie Smith (44*) steered England across the line, sealing the chase with control and flair—Smith finishing in style with a six.
Ben Stokes, captaining England, won the toss and opted to bowl first—a bold call that endured despite early resistance.
India Pile on Runs but Falter in Final Hour
India posted commanding totals in both innings, yet still succumbed in this inaugural match of their new era under captain Shubman Gill. Their first-innings total reached 471, and the second innings added 364.
The innings witnessed no fewer than five Indian centuries, a rare feat in Test cricket :
- Shubman Gill scored a fluent 147, swiftly converting from fifty to ton.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal (101) set the tone with an attacking start, though his fielding lapses proved costly.
- Rishabh Pant continued his red-ball renaissance, hitting 134 in the first innings and another ton (118) in the second, marking his third Test century in England.
- KL Rahul added a crucial 137 in the second innings.
However, India’s formidable batting totals were undone by late-order collapses. In the first innings they lost 7 wickets for 41 runs, and in the second collapse they succumbed for 31 runs in the final phase.
Fielding woes, especially dropped chances, on day five haunted India. A particularly glaring misfield by Jaiswal sparked ridicule and may have shifted momentum toward England .
Bowling Battle and Star Performers
Jasprit Bumrah stole headlines by becoming the first seamer to reach a career milestone in the World Test Championship and the first Asian fast bowler to register 150 Test wickets in SENA countries . He also claimed a five‑wicket haul (5–83) in England’s first innings, though he struggled in the chase, going wicketless on the final day.
Josh Tongue, on his return from injury, impressed with 4 wickets in India’s first innings and 3 in the second . England’s attack was also aided by contributions from Ben Stokes, Brydon Carse, Chris Woakes, and Shoaib Bashir.
For India, Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur picked up crucial late wickets on day five, but could not prevent England’s landmark chase.
Tactics, Tactics, Revolution
England’s aggressive “Bazball” philosophy was evident throughout. Duckett’s explosive knock was described as a “refined version of Bazball”. Former captain Michael Vaughan highlighted England’s fearless intent, even suggesting they “could have chased 450”.
Captains Vaughn and Wasim Jaffer dramatized the rivalry post-match, with Vaughan asserting this debut loss for India might signal a 4–0 series whitewash under the young leadership of Shubman Gill.
Significance and What’s Next
England’s win gives them a 1–0 lead in the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy and shores up their start in the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship cycle.
Despite scoring five centuries, India became the first side in nearly 150 years to lose a Test after 5 centurions appeared in the same match. It also marks a difficult beginning for Gill’s leadership, with England dominating under Stokes’s bold strategy.
Next comes the second Test at Edgbaston (starting July 2), with England expected to welcome back Jofra Archer. India, meanwhile, must regroup swiftly to stem a worrying early trend.
