Duckett and Root star as England chase down 371 in style
By Matt Roller (today), Vithushan Ehantharajah (yesterday)England take 1-0 lead
England 465 (Pope 106, Bumrah 5-83) and 373 for 5 (Duckett 149) beat India 471 (Gill 147, Pant 134, Jaiswal 101) and 364 (Rahul 137, Pant 118) by five wickets
Headingley has become the home of the run chase, and England hauled in a target of 371 to prove it. Set up by Ben Duckett’s dazzling 149 and sealed with a six by Jamie Smith, they romped home in just 82 overs to seal a sixth consecutive win in Leeds, all while bowling first, and to take a one-nil lead in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
It left Ben Stokes to breathe a sigh of relief after his decision to field first on Friday morning, and India to dwell on the countless opportunities they missed to take control of this Test. They hit five centuries to England’s two, but lower-order collapses of 7 for 41 and 6 for 31 proved costly, as did their six dropped catches.
13
8
5
4
A historical win for England!
Headingley and epic run-chases... oh it's a story for the ages! England have pulled a rabbit out of the hat and have chased down 371 in some style. England lead the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 1-0. And what a start to what's shaping up to be one helluva series.
It was Jamie Smith, who having prodded and defended against his instinct, took on Jadeja. With six required, he brought out the slog sweep and smashed him over cow corner to bring up England's second-highest run-chase in Test cricket. Gives Root a big hug, with all smiles in the England changeroom.
India had their chances, make no mistake. They will rue the collapses across both innings, the missed catches, the loose bowling and this will definitely hurt them.
Ben Duckett led the chase with a memorable 149 off 170 balls. He added 188 with Zak Crawley for the opening wicket, and that set up the perfect foundation for the chase. Shardul Thakur removed Duckett and Harry Brook off consecutive balls, but Ben Stokes and Root shared a 49-run stand. In the end, it was Root and Smith with an unbroken 71-run stand to take England home by five wickets.
Some stats from Sampath and Namooh Shah
1) Most target runs successfully chased on the last scheduled day of a Test match
404 - AUS vs ENG, Leeds, 1948 (Day 5)
350 - ENG vs IND, Leeds, 2025 (Day 5)
345 - WI vs NZ, Auckland, 1969 (Day 4)
342 - WI vs ENG, Lord's, 1984 (Day 5)
324 - IND vs AUS, Gabba, 2021 (Day 5)
350 - ENG vs IND, Leeds, 2025 (Day 5)
345 - WI vs NZ, Auckland, 1969 (Day 4)
342 - WI vs ENG, Lord's, 1984 (Day 5)
324 - IND vs AUS, Gabba, 2021 (Day 5)
2) Also, this is only the third time in Test history that 350 has been scored in all four innings.
3) England have now won all of their last six tests at Headingley, all while batting second
13
15
6
6
No Bumrah with the new ball
It's surprising, but Jasprit Bumrah has not taken the new ball. Ravindra Jadeja, it is and Jamie Smith has taken him on! He first has an agricultural heave through midwicket and then absolutely shellacks him over deep square leg to bring the target down to just six!
2
2
3
Here's the new ball
The last throw of the dice for India. Mohammed Siraj has the new ball, England need 22 runs. Sixteen overs left in the day. Can Siraj and Bumrah get the ball to hoop around and make England nervous?
Root has a fifty... not in a manner he would have liked, but he will take it. Oh, he will take it with both hands. A fuller length ball outside off stump, he goes for a drive and the ball flies to the right of a flying gully. Rooooot goes Headingley, and England are 16 away with drinks coming onto the field.
2
5
4
6
Second new ball looms
Is there time for one more twist? Jasprit Bumrah will surely be thrown the second new ball as soon as it becomes available, after 80 overs, and we may also see the overdue reintroduction of Mohammed Siraj, who hasn't bowled since the 41st over. England's requirement is below 30 now, with Root and Smith in cruise control.
2
2
1
47 required
Joe Root's default setting. pic.twitter.com/i6jF9kOnKC
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 24, 2025
5
5
1
3
Leaky Prasidh
6.28 Prasidh Krishna's economy rate at Headingley, the most expensive by any Indian bowler in Test history (min. 20 overs)
5
1
5
10
Jadeja strikes
It has been coming. Stokes' reverse-sweep hasn't been at all convincing off Jadeja, and he top-edges one to Gill in the gully region. In walks Jamie Smith with a job on his hands - and perhaps a point to prove about his temperament, after his first-innings dismissal.
7 Times Jadeja has dismissed Stokes in Tests, at an average of 20.28
Smith and Root put on 64 for the fifth wicket against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford last year in a nervy fourth-innings run chase; the same partnership here would take England's requirement down into single digits.
3
3
2
England pass 300
•
4
4
1
•
•
Just the three overs for Bumrah after tea, who remains wicketless in the second innings after taking five in the first. He's replaced by Prasidh, whose second ball is charged by Stokes and blazed over the covers for four. He then draws an edge, but it skews away between the keeper and the solitary, wide slip fielder.
2
India out of reviews
Ravindra Jadeja is convinced that he's trapped Joe Root lbw, but Chris Gaffaney disagrees. He talks Shubman Gill into a review, but ball-tracking projects it would have missed the top of leg stump. India are out of reviews, and Root breathes a sigh of relief.
0 Successful reviews by Shubman Gill on captaincy debuts. He has reviewed six times, with five unsuccessful and one decision upheld on umpire's call
1
5
Requirement into double figures
The rain relents, and the players are back out there after tea. Ben Stokes cue-ends a cut off Shardul Thakur into the gap between slip and gully, and England's requirement dips below 100. It feels like there's another twist still to come in this Test match.
3
2
2
Rain brings early tea
Tea - England 465 and 269 for 4 (Duckett 149, Crawley 65) need 102 more runs to beat India 471 and 364
Shardul Thakur blew the first Test back open with two wickets in two balls to keep India’s hopes alive, after Ben Duckett set England on their way to another famous Headingley run chase. Thakur had been a passenger for the first four-and-a-half days of the Test but was thrown the ball by Shubman Gill and dismissed Duckett and Harry Brook with consecutive deliveries.
Duckett and Zak Crawley added another 71 in quick time after batting through the morning session, with Duckett racing to his hundred – his sixth in Tests, and his first in England’s second innings – off 121 balls. He was reprieved on 97 by Yashasvi Jaiswal, who dropped his third catch of the match on the square leg boundary, and punched the air on reaching three figures.
After a brief interruption for rain, Crawley pulled Prasidh Krishna through wide mid-on for four but fell to his next ball, edging to slip for 65. England’s first-innings centurion Ollie Pope followed soon after, chopping Prasidh onto his own stumps, but Duckett continued to cruise; his most outrageous shot was a reverse-slap for six over cover off Ravindra Jadeja.
But Thakur’s reintroduction gave India a foothold, as he struck with two innocuous balls. Duckett slapped the first, a wide half-volley, straight to sub fielder Nitish Kumar Reddy at extra cover; Harry Brook strangled the second, a freebie angling a long way past leg stump, through to Rishabh Pant behind the stumps, becoming only the fifth man out for 99 and 0 in the same Test.
Ben Stokes started scratchily against Jadeja, missing a pair of reverse-sweeps – the first of which Shubman Gill unsuccessfully reviewed for a catch at short leg, only for replays to confirm the ball had hit him on the biceps. He and Joe Root will resume with 102 more runs required after the tea interval, which arrived early due to another rain shower.
1
1
1
2
99 problems
5 Harry Brook has become the fifth man to be dismissed for 0 and 99 in the same Test match. The most recent before him was Babar Azam against Australia in Abu Dhabi in 2018.
2
4
1
2
Two in two!
•
•
W
W
Wow! Shardul Thakur has two wickets in two balls. The first was soft, and so is the second. It's full and angling a long way past leg stump, but Harry Brook chases after it and feathers through to Rishabh Pant. Shardul celebrates, and is suddenly on a hat-trick. An opening for India.
15
10
10
7
Shardul strikes!
He has been a passenger for the first four-and-a-half days of this Test match but Shardul Thakur has bagged a huge wicket. It's a nothing ball, a 128kph half-volley wide outside off stump, but Ben Duckett finally picks out a fielder, slapping it straight to Nitish Kumar Reddy who is on as a sub fielder at short cover. He gets a standing ovation from the Headingley crowd for his 149, but this game is still alive.
4
4
5
1
Reverse-launched
Ravindra Jadeja bowling to a 6-3 leg-side field, so Ben Duckett reverse-slaps him over cover-point for six. Incredible batting
— Matt Roller (@mroller98) June 24, 2025
5
3
1
4
England keep ticking
112 Runs England have scored in the 20 overs since the lunch interval, scoring at 5.6 runs per over
5
2
3
11
Prasidh again!
Today isn't the day that Pope alleviates those fourth-innings struggles. Prasidh has been expensive throughout this match but has take two big wickets in the space of eight balls, nipping a good-length ball back in off the seam to take Pope's inside edge. The ball brushes his back thigh on its way onto leg stump, and India have their second.
5
6
3
3
Pope's fourth-innings struggles
Ollie Pope has historically struggled in these situations: he averages just 16 in the final innings of a match, although his only fourth-innings half-century came at Headingley against New Zealand three years ago.
He is up and running quickly here though, whipping Prasidh off his pads for four and sitting deep in the crease to cut Jadeja to the boundary. The second of those shots brings up England's 200.
4
4
Prasidh strikes!
England are halfway there, but India are on the board!
Prasidh Krishna replaces Siraj from the Kirkstall Lane End, and his first ball is pulled through wide mid-on with real intent by Zak Crawley to take England past the halfway mark in this run chase. But Prasidh's follow-up shapes away to take the outside edge, and KL Rahul clings on at slip. Crawley walks off with 65 to his name, and in walks England's first-innings centurion Ollie Pope.
4
4
4
1
Rain stops play
We interrupt this run-chase for a brief message from the heavens #EngvInd pic.twitter.com/B3Rr4bRxlZ
— Andrew Miller (@miller_cricket) June 24, 2025
England need 190 more to win. The rain that has been squalling around Leeds all day has finally hit Headingley, and the covers are on. It is still fairly light, but both umpires have umbrellas up in the middle and a rope is being run around the outfield to dry it out. I don't think this will be a long delay, but it will eat into the time that England have to chase this target.
7
4
4
12
Three figures for Duckett!
Talk about standing up when we need it most
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 24, 2025
Ben Duckett goes to his century
@IGcom pic.twitter.com/W9D4gHrzLs
Ben Duckett reaches his sixth Test century - and second against India - in trademark style, nailing a reverse-sweep off Jadeja which beats the man on the boundary who is there specifically for that shot. He jumps and punches the air to celebrate, but knows that the job is only half-done.
15 Years since an England opener last scored a fourth-innings hundred: Alastair Cook at Mirpur in 2010.
4
3
1
2
Another Jaiswal drop!
Mohammed Siraj is spewing. He induces a false shot from Duckett, a top-edged pull out to deep backward square leg on 97 with shades of his dismissal just short of a hundred in the Lord's Ashes Test two years ago.
But Yashasvi Jaiswal runs in off the boundary, slides forward, and the ball bursts through his hands to give Duckett a life. He breathes a big sigh of relief, and Siraj makes no attempt to hide his frustration with his reaction. The requirement dips below 200...
4
4
2
24
Duckett moves closer
95 This is Ben Duckett's highest score in the 3rd or 4th innings of a Test match. All of his five hundreds have come in England's first innings.
Shubman Gill throws the ball to Ravindra Jadeja to try and lock an end down, but Duckett greets him with two reverse-slaps to the cover boundary. This has been an outrageous innings, and he is closing in on a superb hundred.
2
1
3
Crawley reaches 50
111 Balls taken to reach 50 by Zak Crawley, his slowest in Test cricket. His previous slowest took exactly 100 balls, against West Indies in March 2022
4
2
1
3
England press on
24 Years since England's openers put on a partnership this big in the fourth innings of a match. The good news for India is that England were heavily beaten on that occasion, going down to Saqlain Mushtaq and Wasim Akram at Old Trafford
1
2
2
2
Covers on... then off again
There's a bit of drizzle falling during the lunch interval. The groundstaff have brought the main covers on, but there are no side sheets down as yet. It's very light, to the extent that Akash Deep is still having a bowl on one of the practice pitches, but there are a few umbrellas up in the Western Terrace.
... but barely five minutes later, the covers are being rolled off again and the umpires are walking out onto the outfield. It's still spitting, but it looks like we should resume at 1.40pm as planned.
1
1
1
5
Lunch: England need 254 more to win
Lunch - England 465 and 117 for 0 (Duckett 64*, Crawley 42*) need 254 more runs to beat India 471 and 364
England’s openers batted through the first session unscathed at Headingley, with all four results possible at lunch on the final day. Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley put on their fourth century partnership and became the first set of England openers since Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss to score 2,000 runs as a pair, as India toiled in vain for a breakthrough.
Duckett and Crawley were cautious against Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj in the early stages, with gloomy conditions and tight lines and lengths making fluent run-scoring a challenge. But they kicked on against the change bowlers, Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur, and Duckett accelerated to a 66-ball half-century.
The closest India came to a breakthrough was shortly before lunch, when Bumrah put down a tough low caught-and-bowled chance off Crawley. Roared on by the sizable Indian contingent at Headingley, Bumrah induced a leading edge as Crawley, on 42, looked to defend towards mid-on but he failed to cling on while diving forwards to his left.
Crawley had another brief scare on 21 when Shubman Gill was talked into using a review in the hope of winning an lbw decision. He was struck on the pad when skipping down the pitch to Siraj and looking to hit him over the top, but ball-tracking projected that it would have missed the top of leg stump.
Duckett missed a couple of attempted scoops while attempting to relieve the pressure during the first hour, but his change in tempo owed primarily to orthodox cuts and pulls. He reached lunch unbeaten on 64, following on from his first-innings 62.
The first session was uninterrupted by weather despite the threat of rain, though conditions were grey and murky, with the floodlights on full beam for most of the morning.
8
6
2
5
Ball change
Shubman Gill and his bowlers have been trying to convince the umpires that the ball has gone out of shape all morning; now, they finally have. After 27 overs, the box of balls comes out and a suitable replacement is identified. The first one hardly moved off the straight all morning. Will the new one do anything?
2
2
3
3
Bumrah's back
A loud cheer goes up from the Indian fans at Headingley to mark the return of Jasprit Bumrah for his second spell of the morning, with 20 minutes left before lunch. It's a split field, with two men out on the short ball on the leg side plus a deep point, and Duckett happily slaps a cut away for a single to get off strike.
2
2
2
1
Crawley escapes
Zak Crawley crashes Prasidh Krishna through cover-point to bring up England's 100, but then plays two ill-advised shots that he gets away with. They are both pulls across the line: the first flies over the top of his stumps, with a half-hearted caught-behind appeal, and the second loops up into no-man's-land between short midwicket and the boundary-rider. He then edges past the gully, but without offering a chance.
3
1
1
4
Duckett and Crawley press on
8 Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley have gone past 2,000 runs as a pair this morning. They are the eighth set of England openers to reach that landmark.
3
1
5
Duckett zooms to 50
Ben Duckett has changed gears in the last five overs. He was 25 off 51 balls before hammering Prasidh Krishna through cover, and has now brought up a 66-ball half-century. England are accelerating against India's change bowlers: is it time for Ravindra Jadeja?
1
3
7
England's steady start
Shiva Jayaraman: This is England's second slowest fifty in their last 30 Test innings. The slowest came in the second innings of the Rawalpindi Test in 2024.
2
1
1
2
County watch
Jacob Bethell is having a bat for Warwickshire in the County Championship. It's his first red-ball innings of 2025, walking in at No. 5, and Ollie Pope's first-innings hundred means won't play the second Test at Edgbaston next week barring an injury.
Up at Chester-le-Street, Jofra Archer has bowled 17 overs for Sussex on his comeback to first-class cricket after a four-year absence. He could come into the squad for the second Test.
Meanwhile, Tilak Varma made exactly 100 on his Hampshire debut against Essex at Chelmsford. He's not in the Indian selection picture for this Test series as things stand but is one to watch for the future.
1
1
1
India burn a review
Shubman Gill is yet to review successfully in Test cricket and has wasted one of India's three in this innings. Crawley is hit on the pads by Mohammed Siraj as he looks to shimmy down and whip over midwicket, but he's a long way down the pitch and ball-tracking projects the ball would have missed leg stump by a fair distance.
There have been a few signs of variable bounce this morning, and England's 50 comes up when a ball dies on Rishabh Pant and bobbles past him on the half-volley.
1
1
2
2
Floodlights on
Tidy start from India's seamers this morning, with only 15 runs in the first seven overs of the morning.
Bumrah bowled over the wicket to Duckett in the first innings, looking to angle it across him, but has kept him quiet from around the wicket in the second, minimising width and cramping him for room. Siraj has bowled very straight to Crawley with the field set for a close catch on the leg side.
Still no rain as yet, even with dark clouds overhead, but the floodlights are now coming on.
2
1
1
History favours India?
No team has ever scored 5 hundreds in a Test match and gone on to lose. Only one team - Australia in 1928/29 - has scored 4 and lost #EngvInd https://t.co/xOqDLSpwu3
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) June 24, 2025
3
3
3
2
England up and running
•
•
4
•
•
•
Ben Duckett cracks the first runs of the morning off Jasprit Bumrah, pinging him away through the covers for four. Bumrah responds three balls later with an absolute snorter which angles in from around the wicket then jags away sharply to beat the outside edge. "Absolutely unplayable," is Michael Atherton's verdict on Sky commentary.
1
1
2
5
Reasons for English optimism
4 Four of the last six Headingley Tests have been won by a team chasing 250-plus in the fourth innings. England have been the batting team in three of those: against Australia (2019 and 2023) and New Zealand (2022)
43.8 Batting average in the fourth innings at Headingley in the last decade, the highest of any Test venue in the world
5
1
8
Dilip Doshi 1947-2025
There will be a moment of silence before play on the fifth day to pay tribute to Dilip Doshi, the left-arm spinner who took 114 Test wickets for India between 1979 and 1983. Doshi died in London on Monday after suffering from heart issues, and is survived by his wife and two childen.
1
1
6
Warm-ups in progress
The covers are on at Headingley but the weather is still holding for the time being. Both teams are warming up, with Gautam Gambhir calling his players into a huddle and Brendon McCullum giving underarm throws to Ben Duckett and now Joe Root.
Meanwhile, here's Michael Atherton's day five pitch report for Sky Sports:
How is the pitch for the final day? pic.twitter.com/h46SXOa1sl
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 24, 2025
2
7
4
3
Will we get a positive result?
4
5
2
The early scene
Headingley, Day 5 pic.twitter.com/lZ6CUdj67y
— Matt Roller (@mroller98) June 24, 2025
Good morning from Headingley where we have a tantalising final day in prospect. The equation is simple: England need 350 more runs. India need 10 wickets.
The good news is that the weather is just about holding for the time being, with an hour or so until the resumption. The groundstaff have rolled the covers on since I took the picture above from the balcony, but it seems to be solely precautionary at this stage.
1 England have only drawn once in Tests since Ben Stokes took over as captain in June 2022, when rain washed away the chance of a positive result at Old Trafford in the 2023 Ashes
4
5
4
2
Stumps: England avoid mishap at start of chase
England 465 and 21 for 0 (Crawley 12*, Duckett 9*) need a further 350 to beat India 471 and 364 (Rahul 137, Pant 118, Tongue 3-72, Carse 3-80)
England will need 371 to win the first Test at Headingley, after India were dismissed for 364 in their second innings late on day four. They will return on Tuesday needing 350 more, after Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett negotiated the first six overs of the chase without alarm to close on 21 for 0.
Only once have India lost when defending a total in excess of 350, but that anomaly within a 59-match sequence came on these shores, against a previous iteration of this England side. Three years ago, the first summer of Baz and Ben, England broke their own record for a chase, scything down 378 for the loss of just three wickets at Edgbaston.
If successful, this effort would be their second highest. But India should have asked more from their opponents. Fine centuries from KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant - his second in the match - bossed England for most of the day. But upon the dismissal of the former for 137, after Pant had made 118 - his fourth century in England, equalling the record for the most by a wicketkeeper on the country - a familiar collapsed ensued.
Having managed just 24 between the last five wickets on day two, the last six on day four managed just 31. From 333 for 4 to 364 all out in 71 balls, four in succession from Josh Tongue that accounted for three wickets as he lived up to his nickname “The Mop” for a knack of cleaning up lower orders. Having removed Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Siraj back-to-back, he knocked out Jasprit Bumrah’s middle stump. Just as he did in the first innings, a previous wicketless set of figures was polished by India’s lower order, eventually finishing with 3 for 72.
3
3
3
16
Tick, tock
England have negotiated three overs from Jasprit Bumrah with the new ball... will he get another in? Shubman Gill has chucked the ball to Ravindra Jadeja to try and race through a quick six with the clock hand ticking round to 6.30pm.
It's been a relatively quiet start from the England openers, with just back-to-back fours from Zak Crawley off Mohammed Siraj to get the crowd on their feet. But keeping their wickets intact will be the priority.
Update: No, Jadeja can't beat the clock! Crawley tucks his bat under his arm and marches for the dressing room. England close on 21 without loss, bringing their requirement from the final day down to an even 350 with all ten wickets in hand.
1
2
2
6
A stat nugget from Sampath Bandarupalli
India's first five partnerships across both innings added 780 runs, the second-most for them in a Test match. The 781 against Australia at Sydney in 2004 is the highest.
The last five stands across innings combined for only 55 runs, the fifth lowest for India in a Test match.
2
2
3
9
India 364 all out - England need 371 to win the 1st Test
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a ball game.
Prasidh Krishna, who had been shepherded from the strike by Ravindra Jadeja - who, by the way, was starting to find the boundaries - has hauled Shoaib Bashir across the line and been caught in the deep.
Having lost their last five first innings wickets for 24, they have lost six in their second innings for just 31. A dire showing, really, particularly given how well India had done to negotiate the difficult start to the day, and the subsequent acceleration to get themselves ahead by a decent margin. Bear in mind, they were leading by 339 and only four down at one point. As on day two, Josh Tongue was the beneficiary of this lower order generosity, with three wickets in an over.
The collapse was triggered by KL Rahul's dismissal for 137 - played on a lifter from Brydon Carse - but he had more than done his job in tandem with Rishabh Pant's 118.
England will have until 6:30pm local time for the start of their chase.
1
1
2
3
The Tale of Two Tails
England's last five wickets added 189 in their first innings. India's have added 43 across both.
1
7
Tongue has another serving of rabbit pie
3
5
They got five on it
And it'll probably stay at five. Shardul Thakur drives poorly (again) and that's India 349 for 7... and now 349 for 8 as Mohammed Siraj gloves down the leg side! He looks in a great deal of pain there as he walks back to the dressing room, glove off, analysing the fingers on his right hand...
1
4
2
1
Carse gets KL!
Brydon Carse gets KL Rahul! It is more or less a carbon-copy of the dismissal of Gill, getting big on Rahul, who tries to ride the extra bounce and ends up playing onto middle stump. The bat closed, probably the first time that Rahul has not had the face as he wanted it.
He walks off with his side in a commanding position, approaching a lead of 350 with enough batting left to push that to 400. That is providing them improve on their first innings efforts, when the last five wickets contributed just 24 runs...
And now Chris Woakes gets Nair! A full ball is punched back for a return catch that is taken with ease. Woakes, who did not bowl at all during the middle session, was dangerously close to his second wicketless Test appearance.
India have lost 2 for 2 in 10 deliveries.
3
2
1
4
Given it didn't last long a couple of days ago...
I figured now, after driving crisply down the ground for his second boundary, would be a good time to replug our Karun Nair video. Hopefully it won't jinx him this time
4
3
3
4
Tea - India 298 for 4, leading by 304
Centuries from KL Rahul (120*) and Rishabh Pant (118) have put India firmly in control of this first Test, leading England by 304 runs as they head into tea on day four on 298 for 4.
That Rahul’s 9th hundred and Pant’s eighth came off 202 and 130 deliveries, respectively, tells the story of their roles within a 195-run stand for the fourth wicket that initially quelled a tough morning, before running riot in the afternoon. They had earned a decent platform after toughing out the first session, scoring just 63 runs for the loss of skipper Shubman Gill to a brute of a delivery from Brydon Carse. And with it, they made hay with 145 runs over the next 27 overs.
Both had their share of good luck. Rahul was dropped by Harry Brook on 55, while Pant edged a couple through the cordon - a vacant first to start with when on 31, then a vacant second which moved him to 49 - before a full-blooded cover drive on 75 was tipped around the post by Ben Stokes at cover. But neither dwelled on errors, nor lost sight of the bigger picture.
Rahul’s serenity on the drive was coupled with wearing three blows to the glove. A caress through the covers for two took him to his eigth overseas century, celebrated with little more than a shrug. It was his sixth outside of Asia as an opener, with only Sunil Gavaskar ahead of him (15).
Similarly, Pant’s was far more subdued than his first innings celebration, remaining upright this time but seemingly promising Rahul he’d do the front-flip again next time. And the stats suggest there will be a next time given he has become the first visiting wicketkeeper to score four Test centuries in a country.
He accelerated upon passing fifty, taking 44 off 25 deliveries to move to 95. The journey from there to 100 took 22 more, though he made up for “lost” time by smashing Joe Root for four, six and four in the very next over. An attempt to do the same to Shoaib Bashir resulted in a catch for Zak Crawley at long on.
Bashir celebrated like he had won the battle, but he really had not given Pant was aiming for the stand in which he had sent Bashir earlier for back-to-back sixes. Both he and Rahul had just started tucking into the rookie off spinner. Karun Nair then reverse swept Bashir for four, taking himself off a pair and moving India’s lead beyond 300.
4
4
3
1
Riveting Rishabh
The acceleration after an overly chaotic start has been quite something from Pant. Amid a series of wild hacks and a failed tumbling-scoop that England reviewed in the hopes of an LBW when he had 15, there has been utter carnage since making it past fifty. That milestone was brought up from 83 deliveries, before scoring 44 from his next 25.
The journey from 95 to 100 took 22 more, a dabbed single off Bashir into point. The celebration was of utter relief, and though the gloves were laid down with the helmet and bat, he decided against the front-flip celebration. "Next time," he seems to say to KL Rahul as they embrace.
This is now the first Test to feature five Indian centurions.
And now Pant overtakes KL Rahul, celebrating his milestone with a relentless assault on Joe Root...
4b
4
6
4
2
9
4
1
As Rishabh Pant rushes towards his second century of the match...
Let's take a moment to appreciate KL Rahul's calm...
8
17
4
2
Sid Monga on KL Rahul's 8th Test century
That is a well-deserved hundred from KL Rahul, who has on skill been India’s second-best batter of the last era. Nobody deserves that dropped catch (on 55) more than he does. He has worked hard, weathered the storm, and has just batted classically: see ball, react to ball, play percentage cricket.
Eight of his nine hundreds have come away from home. The first Asian opener to score three in England. He has forever been a player of great innings rather than a great player.
The thing about him, though, is he doesn’t have 500-series. Not even 400. The most prolific series he has had is 393 runs. He has the measure of the bowling, the conditions are likely to be similarly good in the rest of the series, and he now needs to finally get a 500 series.
12
16
6
2
Rishabh Pant passes fifty - again
6
•
6
•
1
4
Rishabh Pant is now on the charge. An over after bringing up his half-century from 83 deliveries, he has struck Shoaib Bashir back over his head and into the stands at long on for back-to-back sixes.
There has been luck, no doubt, another bite of it when he edged Josh Tongue for a second time through a vacant cordon, this time where a second slip might have been, to move to 49. But it has been another thriller from the left-handed dynamo.
Stokes immediately turns to Brydon Carse, his most effective and restricting bowler... who immediately gets pulled to the midwicket fence by Pant!
By the way... this is Pant's fifth 50-plus score in England - only the third Indian to enjoy such a run in away Tests:
Gundappa Viswanath - Australia 1977-78
Sanjay Manjrekar - Pakistan 1989
Rishabh Pant - England 2021-25
4
6
4
India start to move... lead of 185
You get the sense this match is turning India's way. Rishahb is back to being a rascal and getting away it in thoroughly entertaining fashion. And England are getting steadily irked.
On 31, as Ben Stokes opted to throw out the slips for a very straight fly one, Pant not only edged (deliberately?) through first slip, but inside the fly, too. Next ball, he raced out of the block and met Tongue more than halfway, bottom hand off the bat as he swatted through cover for four. Tongue now has a slip... but even that can't shut Pant down, who shows a bit of touch to guide inside third to move to 45.
KL Rahul is more than happy to chill out in Pant's slipstream, banking a sweep around the corner off Shoaib Bashir for his 11th boundary, taking him into the nineties.
4
4
2
Lunch, Day 4 - India 153 for 3, leading by 159
A slow session for India but a successful one. Though they have only managed to add 63 runs during day four’s morning session at Headingley, they survived 24.1 overs for the loss of just a single wicket. Even though it was their captain, a score of 153 for 3 and a lead of 159 has them in good shakes in the midst of a second-innings shootout in this first Test against England.
KL Rahul's dogged 72 not out, his 26th fifty plus score in Tests, came amid a wave of outstanding bowling from England's quicks, and a few pings on the top hand administered by Ben Stokes, as this pitch shows further signs of irregular bounce.
Brydon Carse set the tone and the standard early with a six-over morning spell (1 for 12) from the Kirkstall Lane End that accounted for Shubman Gill. The India captain skewed onto the base of his off stump after deviation from a length delivery found an inside edge as the right-hander attempted to play through gully.
That, however, was their only success in a session littered with beaten outside edges. It should not have been, of course. Harry Brook, the beneficary of three lives in his innings of 99, repaid the ‘favour’ with a drop at gully when Rahul, on 55, attempted a second consuective guide to the third boundary off Josh Tongue.
The strike was out of character from Rahul, who had shown great restraint with overcast, cooler conditions stacking the odds against the batters. By contrast, Rishabh Pant was his usual ball of chaos, charging Chris Woakes and skewing over the cordon from his second ball. He had done exactly the same in his first innings - charging Stokes second ball - but made far better contact then.
It was truly a comical start from Pant, who had to be calmed down by Rahul after moving to 15 with a mow across the line for a fortuitous boundary off Carse, with Shoaib Bashir at fine leg and Joe Root running back from the cordon desperate to meet it before it hit the ground. Three deliveries later, he was subject to a voracious LBW appeal as he fell away to the off side attempting his patented fall-away ramp.
Umpire Paul Reiffel gave it not out and England’s review proved him right, with an inside edge. But it was enough of a warning for Pant to control himself a little more. His next 16 runs came from 36 deliveries, as he and Rahul managed to get to the break with their stand in tact on 61.
9
3
3
1
It's spitting!
A few deliveries have reared up throughout this Test, but enough outside off stump to not permeate a batter's mind.
However, Ben Stokes has got a couple to really spit up at KL Rahul, stinging his top hand to "ooooohs" from the crowd. It's difficult out there, which is a great sign for India and their quicks. Speaking of...
3
3
3
KL gets a life on 55!
Having guided Josh Tongue nicely down to third for his first boundary of the morning, KL Rahul attempted to try and repeat the trick.
But the ball was a touch too short, and the guide ended up becoming catching practice for Harry Brook at gully... who fails!
Talk about paying it forward. Brook was dropped twice (46 and 82) during his innings of 99 yesterday, and was also caught of a Bumrah no ball the night before when he did not have a run to his name. Consider this the start of redressing balance.
6
6
6
3
"Don't worry I am still watching the ball closely..."
So said Rishabh Pant to KL Rahul, who was checking on the keeper-batter after he seemed a bit out of sorts upon charging and smashing straight to extra cover.
The next delivery, Pant tried he patented fall-over ramp and ended up wearing the ball, albeit off an inside edge. England reviewed after umpire Paul Reiffel adjudged it not out; an outstanding decision considering the mess of limbs in front of him.
It is one thing to try and hit a bowler off his length, especially when they're in the kind of groove Carse is in right now. But that was a honking effort from Pant. Right after, you could hear him through the stump mic telling himself to calm down.
2
4
7
KL completes his 26th fifty-or-more score
There have been a handful of play and misses this morning with Carse moving the ball around nicely, and sharply. Now there's one off Chris Woakes, which angles in from wide before nipping past the outside edge as Rahul looks to cover off stump - twice!
It's not easy out there, but he's playing within himself and hanging in there...
2
4
2
1
Gill goes! Pant arrives...
Brydon Carse's natural angle is into the right-handers, occasionally choosing to go wide on the crease to exaggerate that movement.
Sometimes, however, he gets it to nip from a straighter, more middle of the crease approach, and that's exactly what has happened here. A length delivery seems to be offering Shubman Gill width outside off stump, but as he shapes to slice it down to third, the ball nips. A lot.
Committed to the shot, his hands whip down, the ball skews off the inside edge and just connects with the base of off stump. Carse wheels away as Gill stands there, crestfallen.
One first innings centurion departs, to be replaced by another in Rishabh Pant. Guess what he does second ball? Yes, you at the back, that's absolutely right - charges Chris Woakes and skews an edge high over the cordon!
1
3
King Legend hours?
Of the many conversations last night across Leeds' many watering holes was just how good KL Rahul looked yesterday. Just the perfect stylish, really - crisp, functional, does the business up top, can do it at four too.
Now, though, comes the substance. The sun has just peeked out as Shubman Gill strides out first, closely followed by KL, 6* and 47* respectively. Shoaib Bashir to finish his over from the Football Stand End.
Let's do this...
2
2
2
Yesterday's news, today's story
Funny how Test cricket works. Events fold into one another, get smoothed out and folded again like a well-layered croissant. The main story from the previous day ends up only getting covered the next day.
For instance, we all knew Sid Monga was eventually going to wax lyrical about Jasprit Bumrah when England's first innings came to a close. The framing, however - of a man who will sorely be missed by his teammates (and fans of the sport)during his rest periods - only came to the fore as England sprinted, with the occasional stumble, to 465.
Ollie Pope, however, had already had his write-up on day two, but only did media last night on account of being 100 not out coming into day three. Players generally don't like to chat when they're unbeaten at stumps (jinxes and what not).
Harry Brook got his column inches following his 99. As for Pope, he seemed pretty happy and not bothered by the chat around his place - at all.
1
1
1
3
Day Four It
Morning morning from a pretty uncertain Leeds. Both in terms of the weather and the destination of this match.
I went for a little jaunt this morning and it was drizzling at around 9am (two hours before the scheduled start). But ever since, the sun has returned and that unwelcome mug in the air remains, though quelled somewhat by chilliest conditions of the Test match. There’s just been a short shower on the way into the ground at 10am but, otherwise, the forecast is set fair.
Honestly, it is as hard to call this game as to find a workable outfit for this weather. Jumper and shorts? T-shirt/button-up and trousers? Still, firm decisions need to be made (t-shirt and trousers) and the first of those will be India’s.
How quick should they go? How long should they go on for? All will be revealed soon...
7
2
2
Day 3 report
India 471 and 90 for 2 (Rahul 47*) lead England 465 (Pope 106, Brook 99, Duckett 62, Bumrah 5-83) by 96 runs
Harry Brook threw his head back in despair after picking out long leg but his innings of 99 set up a tantalising one-innings match at his home ground. India had three first-innings centurions to England’s one and Jasprit Bumrah completed a dazzling five-for to prove he is a class above any other bowler on show, yet only six runs separated the two teams after eight sessions.
Reprieved before he had scored a run on the second evening thanks to Bumrah overstepping, Brook made India pay for their profligacy. He was dropped twice – on 46, then 80 – but played several outrageous shots as he approached his first Headingley Test hundred, only to fall into a short-ball trap by pulling Prasidh Krishna down Shardul Thakur’s throat.
But England’s lower order ensured that they raced towards parity. Where India had lost their last five wickets for 24, England added 189 in 35.5 overs, with Chris Woakes pulling back-to-back sixes to reach 2,000 Test runs. Bumrah cleaned up his stumps, then Tongue’s, to clinch his third five-wicket haul in England and a slender, single-figure lead.
It meant the first Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy would be determined by both teams’ second innings, and KL Rahul batted with characteristic class to lay the early foundations for a steep England target. But Ben Stokes’ late wicket of Sai Sudharsan, three overs before rain brought an early close, left the match in the balance heading into the final two days.
4
4
4
1
That's stumps
The rain arrives, and the players head off. It's past 6pm, so that is stumps on the third day.
3
5
3
5
Hook, line, sinker!
Stokes gets Sai Sudharsan for the second time in the match, and it's the same leg-side ploy that gets him. In the first innings, it was an old-fashioned strangle through to Jamie Smith; today, he chips a booming inswinger off his pads straight to the catcher in at short, square midwicket. England break the partnership, and Shubman Gill comes in to face the music.
6
3
4
10
Duckett drops Sudharsan
The chance goes begging! Short and wide from Tongue, and Sudharsan throws his hand at the cut shot. He's off his feet and out of control, and miscues it to Duckett in the gully. But he puts it down, and snatches at the rebound chance as it pops up out of his hands.
"He spotted it very late," Dinesh Karthik reckons on Sky Sports, with the light fairly gloomy even with the floodlights on. But Duckett will feel as though he should have taken that.
4
2
3
4
Stokes replaces Bashir
Curious, just the one over for Bashir - not for an end change, either as Ben Stokes takes matters into his own hands. His second ball is a lifter which shapes in and smacks Sai Sudharsan on the glove, but Sudharsan guides his sixth past the diving gully fielder for four. He has batted nicely so far, looking to play the ball late and with soft hands.
3
3
2
Bashir gets an early bowl
Shoaib Bashir is on to bowl the 13th over. He wasn't used until the 40th in the first innings, and has also changed ends: he is coming down the hill from the Kirkstall Lane End, rather than up it from the Football Stand End - perhaps because of the stiff breeze blowing across the ground.
His second ball, a filthy drag-down, gets pulled for four behind square leg by KL Rahul, and his first over costs eight runs in all. India are racing along at 4.38 runs per over, without having to take any risks.
2
2
2
KLassic
•
4
•
4
•
4
Two sumptuous shots from KL Rahul for boundaries off Brydon Carse, and a classy flick off his pads for an all-run four. Carse goes full and straight, targeting the lbw, and gets driven straight back down the ground, then goes fullish in the channel looking for the outside edge and disappears through the covers. Quality batting.
2
3
6
Prasidh's unwanted record
6.4 Prasidh Krishna's economy rate in England's first innings - the joint-sixth most expensive economy rate for any bowler in a Test innings (min. 20 overs)
3
3
2
13
Jaiswal goes cheaply
Phwoar, that is a snorter from Brydon Carse.
Around the wicket, 87mph/140kph, steep bounce from a good length, angling in then nipping away off the seam to take the outside edge. Jaiswal edges through to Smith, and stands there disconsolate before hauling himself off towards the dressing room. 101 in the first innings but two expensive drops at gully and now a failure in the second.
This could be a tricky session for India, with the clouds rolling in and the floodlights on.
3
6
Brilliant Bumrah
6
7
9
Tea: India lead by six runs
Tea - England 465 (Pope 106, Brook 99, Duckett 62, Bumrah 5-83) trail India 471 by six runs
Harry Brook threw his head back in anguish after picking out long leg on 99 but his free-scoring innings and some lower-order hitting cut India’s first-innings lead to just six at Headingley. They were led off by their spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, who mopped up the tail to finish with 5 for 83 after three vital breakthroughs on the second afternoon.
Brook had three reprieves but made India pay for their profligacy. He was caught miscuing an ugly pull to midwicket in the final over on Saturday night before he had scored, saved by Bumrah overstepping, and was dropped twice on Sunday: Rishabh Pant put him down off Ravindra Jadeja on 46, and on 80, Yashasvi Jaiswal made a mess of a simple chance at gully.
He played a freewheeling innings, taking down Mohammed Siraj who tried to goad him into a verbal battle after being hit for consecutive boundaries; instead, he was slapped back over his head for a towering six into the lower tier of the Football Stand. There was an outrageous falling paddle-sweep off Jadeja too, emulating a shot Pant had played off Shoaib Bashir.
But like Jamie Smith before him, Brook fell into Prasidh Krishna’s short-ball ploy and holed out to one of the leg-side boundaries riders. Smith’s brisk 40 ended when he hooked Prasidh to deep backward square leg, where Jadeja and Sai Sudharsan combined for a relay catch; Brook tried to keep his pull down, but top-edged it straight down Shardul Thakur’s throat.
Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse added 55 for the eighth wicket in just 7.2 overs as India grew ragged, Woakes reached 2,000 Test runs by clubbing Prasidh for consecutive sixes. But Mohammed Siraj bluffed Carse with a yorker and Bumrah cleaned up Woakes and Josh Tongue to complete his third five-wicket haul on English soil.
England trail by just six runs, and we have a one-innings shoot-out in store.
4
4
4
3
Bumrah strikes again
Magical bowling from India's spearhead, finding late movement away to rearrange Chris Woakes' stumps. Bumrah has been used much less frequently by Shubman Gill today, who is clearly conscious of managing his workload. India are closing in on a slim first-innings lead as Shoaib Bashir walks out at No. 11.
2
2
2
1
You miss, I hit
Brydon Carse is cleaned up. Mohammed Siraj starts his over with a short-ball barrage and the field set accordingly, with Carse picking up four through a cross-batted swipe through mid-on. But he nails the bluff, firing in a fast, straight yorker as Carse backs away looking to carve him into the off side, and the partnership is broken.
5
3
3
3
Woakes and Carse press on
36 Balls taken for Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse to bring up a 50 partnership for the eighth wicket
These lower-order runs are a major headache for India. Their tailenders were blown away by Josh Tongue and Ben Stokes on the second morning, but England's bowlers are providing very useful runs. India's decision to pick Shardul Thakur ahead of Kuldeep Yadav - who would have been priceless in this situation - is looking worse by the over.
1
1
2
Headline Harry
Brook l̶y̶n̶ Nine-Nine.
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) June 22, 2025
3
2
2
6
Woakes on the charge
1
•
1
6
6
•
Chris Woakes brings up 2,000 Test runs in style, with consecutive sixes. They are both short balls, slammed in halfway down by Prasidh Krishna, but fly to opposite sides of the ground: the first is swatted over midwicket, the second upper-cut over deep third. The deficit is just 30 now for England.
1
2
How it feels to hole out on 99
5
3
3
7
Drops galore
Ollie Pope dropped on 62, goes on to get 106. Duckett dropped on 15, goes on to get 62, Brook out off a no ball on 0, dropped on 46 and 82 and scores 99. Do the math. #ENGvsIND
— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) June 22, 2025
1
1
4
No. 88 goes for 99
Harry Brook is disgusted with himself. He falls for the 90s for the first time in his Test career, and joins Jamie Smith in falling into a short-ball hook, and he miscues his pull straight down the throat of Shardul Thakur at long leg.
He throws his head back in disbelief and covers his face with his glove. It takes him an age to drag himself off the field of play, and he is absolutely livid with himslef. You could argue those are 99 bonus runs for Brook after his reprieve on 0 last night, when Jasprit Bumrah overstepped, but England still trail by 73 as Brydon Carse walks in.
Ali Martin from the Guardian has been busy on Statsguru, and discovers this is England's 16th Test 99 - the first since Jonny Bairstow against South Africa back in 2017.
6
3
3
6
India's costly misses
As recorded by ESPNcricinfo's ball-by-ball commentary...
6.6, Bumrah to Duckett
Dropped at backward point! Jadeja throws the ball into the ground in frustration! Duckett slashed hard in the channel, a thick outside edge flying low to the fielder's right. He got both hands to it on the dive, but the catch went down
Dropped at backward point! Jadeja throws the ball into the ground in frustration! Duckett slashed hard in the channel, a thick outside edge flying low to the fielder's right. He got both hands to it on the dive, but the catch went down
30.6, Bumrah to Pope
Dropped! Another one off Bumrah... Pope looking for the deliberate steer wide of the cordon again, this flies off a thick outside edge, Jaiswal throwing himself to his right. But the ball hits the hands and squirms free!
Dropped! Another one off Bumrah... Pope looking for the deliberate steer wide of the cordon again, this flies off a thick outside edge, Jaiswal throwing himself to his right. But the ball hits the hands and squirms free!
48.4, Bumrah to Brook
In the air and gone.Bumrah has delivered one more time. No, he hasn't, because Bumrah has overstepped for the third time in the over. Banged in short on off, Brook attempts a pull, gets a top edge and Siraj running back from midwicket takes a good catch tumbling away. But all this for nothing! What drama in the final over the day. Wow!
In the air and gone.
71.1, Jadeja to Brook
Edged, and dropped by Pant! He flings himself to gather the deflection, but he can't atone! A tough chance, standing up and it was the fizzing bounce into the splice that did for Brook. But another chance goes down!
Edged, and dropped by Pant! He flings himself to gather the deflection, but he can't atone! A tough chance, standing up and it was the fizzing bounce into the splice that did for Brook. But another chance goes down!
84.6, Bumrah to Brook
Another chance goes down! Jaiswal it is, again. That was really a straightforward chance and should have been swallowed. Back of a length ball outside off, he steers it straight to Jaiswal at fourth slip, who shells it
Another chance goes down! Jaiswal it is, again. That was really a straightforward chance and should have been swallowed. Back of a length ball outside off, he steers it straight to Jaiswal at fourth slip, who shells it
2
5
Another life for Brook
And another drop by Yashasvi Jaiswal. He put Ollie Pope down on 60 last night, and has now dropped Brook on 83. Bumrah covers his face in horror. He induces a thick outside edge which flies straight to Jaiswal in the gully region around chest height - "almost like catching practice" is Dinesh Karthik's verdict on Sky Sports - but he somehow makes a complete mess of it.
Brook is going to keep swinging hard here, and absolutely crunches Siraj into the lower tier of the Football Stand for six to move into the 90s.
2
6
Brook vs Siraj
•
4
4
2
•
1
This is box office.
Harry Brook has decided to take on the second new ball - was there ever any doubt? - and thrashes Mohammed Siraj for back-to-back boundaries, the first "hammered" dead-straight, in the words of Ravi Shastri, and the second crashed over cover. Siraj bowls a good follow-up, which Brook inside-edges into his pad, and Siraj stares him down; Brook responds by telling him to go back and bowl.
2
1
2
Second new ball taken
1
7
1
4
Live by the hook, die by the hook
That's not Jamie Smith's finest moment.
He decides to take on the short ball, and creams Prasidh over deep backward square for six into the stands. He attempts to pull the follow-up and misses it - with India optimistically and unsuccessfully reviewing - and then doesn't get enough connection on the third ball of the over. Jadeja settles underneath it at deep backward square, and parries it up to Sai Sudharsan to complete the catch.
A cheap wicket for India, with the second new ball available in three balls' time.
4
4
4
3
Bumper time
1
2
1
•
4
•
A change in tactics from Shubman Gill straight after lunch. Prasidh Krishna replaces Ravindra Jadeja from the Football Stand End, with men on the rope at point, third, fine leg, long leg and square leg. All six balls are dug in short, and Brook and Smith are happy to take them on.
1
2
Lunch: England 327 for 5
Lunch - England 327 for 5 (Brook 57*, Smith 29*) trail India 471 by 144 runs
Harry Brook made India pay for their profligacy at Headingley, as England shaded the first session on the third day. Brook miscued an ugly pull to midwicket in the final over last night only to be reprieved when the third umpire spotted Jasprit Bumrah had overstepped, and got another life on 46 when Rishabh Pant failed to gather a chance off Ravindra Jadeja.
But Brook put India under sustained pressure from the outset, cutting Prasidh Krishna for four then pulling him over midwicket for six in the first over on Sunday morning. He reached a 65-ball half-century shortly before lunch with a single to long-on, marking his second fifty in three innings at his home ground in his maiden Test against India.
India’s seamers generally bowled with more control than they had on the second day, with Mohammed Siraj particularly impressive. Ollie Pope added only six runs to his unbeaten 100 before edging behind off Prasidh Krishna, and Siraj had Stokes caught behind to end a scratchy innings of 20 off 52 balls, prompting him to throw his bat in the air in frustration.
Jadeja wheeled away from the Football Stand End, allowing the seamers to run down the hill, and could easily have had a wicket: Pant failed to gather when Brook feathered behind on 46, and Jamie Smith’s inside edge narrowly evaded Sai Sudharsan at forward short leg.
Bumrah bowled six overs across two spells, the second after the ball had gone out of shape and was replaced, but failed to add to the three wickets he had taken on Saturday. He will have another opportunity with the second new ball this afternoon.
5
5
2
4
Brook moves to 50
2 Fifties for Harry Brook at Headingley, his home ground, in three Test innings.
Brook played a shot last night that could easily have been a contender for the worst of the Bazball era: a top-edged pull of Jasprit Bumrah in the final over of the day which ballooned up to short midwicket. But he was saved by a front-foot no-ball, and has made Bumrah pay for his error this morning. Brook has struggled against India in white-ball cricket, but has 50 in his first Test innings against them.
4
4
4
3
Jadeja's key role
2.81 Ravindra Jadeja's economy rate after 16 overs, with figures of 0 for 45.
He hasn't created many genuine chances, but Ravindra Jadeja has held up an end very well for India. He is coming uphill from the Football Stand End, enabling the fast bowlers to rotate from the Kirkstall Lane End (downhill) and ensuring a lighter workload for them. His record in England isn't the best - an average of 45.14 - but he has a significant role to play in this series.
In fact, right on cue, he creates a chance and a half-chance in the same over: Rishabh Pant can't hold onto an outside edge from Brook, and an inside edge bursts past Sai Sudharsan at short leg.
4
4
5
2
Smith survives a scare
Shardul Thakur belatedly returns to the attack and his second ball, a short, wide long-hop, is crashed through cover point for four by Jamie Smith. But Smith gets himself into a real tangle two balls later, skipping down the pitch and getting thumped on the shin by a full toss.
It's given out on-field by Chris Gaffaney, but Smith reviews successfully: ball-tracking projects that it would have missed leg stump.
2
3
2
7
Siraj gets Stokes!
Stokes feathers behind! He played and missed at Siraj the ball before drinks, and falls to the same bowler two overs later. Just enough movement away off the seam to take the edge, and India are up and about. Two wickets in the first session, and they're one more away from the bowlers.
Stokes never really got going today, and flings his bat in the air in frustration. He said in the build-up to this Test that he didn't feel the need to play for England Lions against India A to get some match practice; I wonder if he regrets that decision after a scratchy start to the series.
8
6
8
2
Pant frustrated
Wow, stunning batting by Harry Brook. He gives Mohammed Siraj the charge, looking to flat-bat him down the ground, but makes a late adjustment as he sees the ball dug in short and upper-cuts him fine for four.
Rishabh Pant tries to convince Paul Reiffel, the square-leg umpire, that the ball has gone out of shape but it fits through the gauge just fine, and Pant flings it away in frustration towards KL Rahul at midwicket. The Western Terrace enjoyed that, whistling and jeering, but the match referee may not have.
3
1
2
6
Bumrah's first spell is done
4 Overs bowled by Jasprit Bumrah in his first spell of the day, with figures of 0 for 11
Bumrah beats Ben Stokes on the outside edge with a ball that shapes away a touch and zips past his booming cover drive. It is Stokes' only attempt to attack in a maiden over, and Bumrah is replaced at the Kirkstall Lane End by Mohammed Siraj. Job done for England. Will Bumrah have another short burst before lunch?
6
6
6
1
Pope ct Pant b Prasidh 106
100 runs last night, but only six more this morning. Ollie Pope has only spent one over of this Test match off the field but throws his head back in disappointment as he trudges off.
This isn't the best ball that he's faced by any means, short of a length with a bit of width. But he can only get a thin edge through to Rishabh Pant as he throws his hands at the ball with minimal foot movement, and Prasidh Krishna gets on the board for the match.
14
8
8
4
Brook's fast start
1
•
•
•
4
6
11 runs off the first over of the day: Harry Brook was given a huge life last night when he pulled Jasprit Bumrah to midwicket in the final over of the session, only for the third umpire to spot that Bumrah had overstepped. He has started the third morning with real intent, cutting Prasidh Krishna for four then launching him over midwicket for six.
5
3
3
4
Archer's back
After a four-year hiatus, Jofra Archer is back playing first-class cricket. He is in Sussex's team to face Durham in the County Championship, though may not bowl until tomorrow after John Simpson chose to bat first.
Jacob Bethell, England's spare batter, has also been made available to play in the Championship after missing out on selection for the Headingley Test; his Warwickshire team are bowling first against Somerset at Edgbaston.
4
1
1
Duckett: Bumrah is the best in the world
4
5
4
Duckett: We call Tongue 'the mop'
Josh Tongue has been speaking to Sky Sports this morning about his four-wicket burst to end India's innings yesterday. Ben Duckett, his Nottinghamshire team-mate, said that Tongue has been dubbed "the mop" by his team-mates - because he mops up the lower order - and Ben Stokes celebrated by mimicking "eating rabbit pie" after his final wicket.
"Stokesy had a clear message to hit the pitch hard, and that helped. The swing from around the wicket to the left-handers helped. It’s more swing [than seam] at the minute," Tongue said. "I was just trying to hit the pitch hard. As soon as I saw the ball swinging back in, my first couple of balls to Pant, I started a bit too straight and then readjusted my line."
1
1
6
David Lawrence 1964-2025
There's some sad news to bring you this morning: David 'Syd' Lawrence, the Gloucestershire legend who played five Tests for England from 1988-92, has died at the age of 61 after a "brave battle" with motor neurone disease.
"‘Syd’ was an inspirational figure on and off the cricket field and no more so than to his family who were with him when he passed," his family said in a statement. "A proud Gloucestershire man, Syd took on every challenge with everything he could and his final contest with MND was no different. His willingness to encourage and think of others right up to the end was typical of the man he was."
Richard Thompson, the ECB chair, said: "David ‘Syd’ Lawrence was a true trailblazer of English cricket and a man of immense courage, character, and compassion. His impact on the game extended far beyond the boundary ropes. As a fast bowler, he thrilled crowds with his pace and passion. As a leader and advocate, he broke barriers and inspired change, becoming a powerful voice for inclusion and representation in our sport.
“Even in the face of his illness, David showed extraordinary strength and dignity, continuing to uplift others with his resilience and spirit. He leaves behind a legacy that will endure in the hearts of all who love cricket. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the entire cricketing community at this time."
Gloucestershire, the club where Lawrence was president until his death, said in a statement: "David Lawrence was more than just a fast bowler. He was a pioneer, a mentor, and a symbol of resilience. His presence on and off the field, will be remembered by all who knew him, played with him, or simply watched him tear in from his long run-up.
"Everyone at Gloucestershire Cricket would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Syd and his family. We are deeply thankful for everything he gave to the game we all love. His contributions will never be forgotten."
2
4
9
An overcast start
Good morning from Headingley, where the clouds have rolled in. There's a bit of breeze in the air, and temperatures will be significantly cooler today than on the first two days of this match - only around 20 degrees, after pushing 30. That is probably good news for India's seamers - though Jasprit Bumrah is a handful in any conditions.
Good morning from a cloudy Headingley #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/GcMDX51MS6
— England's Barmy Army (@TheBarmyArmy) June 22, 2025
1
1
1
Stumps: Pope ton but Bumrah carries fight
England 209 for 3 (Pope 100*, Brook 0*) trail India 471 (Gill 147, Pant 134, Jaiswal 101, Stokes 4-66, Tongue 4-86) by 262 runs
Saturday in Leeds was a day of opportunities taken and spurned. Unfortunately for India, it was their contribution to the latter on day two that has changed the complexion of this Test match.
Having begun the day with Rishabh Pant’s thrill-filled 134, the third of the India innings, they proceeded to lose 7 for 41 to cap their innings at 471. And yet more profligacy in the field not only allowed Ollie Pope to move to his ninth Test century, but England to close on 209 for 3.
Pope, unbeaten on 100, rests satiated with a consecutive Test hundred following his 171 against Zimbabwe, at a time when his place has been questioned with the precocious yet century-less Jacob Bethell waiting in the wings.
Pope also rests dreaming of mimicking his Hyderabad epic that dug England out of a similar sized hole. But India will rue a drop on 60 by Yashasvi Jaiswal at third slip, after Pope had played in the air through that region earlier (on 48) and fourth at the very start of his innings when on 10. That he had made all three errors off Jasprit Bumrah was no surprise, particularly as the demonic quick ended up accounting for all three wickets.
But just when it looked like Bumrah would head to stumps with a clean record, a third front-foot no ball in his final over of the day ended up giving Harry Brook a life on 0. A brutal short ball was clothed amaterishly by Brook towards midwicket. Umpire Chris Gaffaney, having stuck his arm out for the previously delivery, put his hand to his ear before doing so one more as news of another infringement came through from the television umpire.
5
2
2
4
Bumrah strikes oversteps...!
Into the final over of the day, India praying for Jasprit Bumrah to produce one last moment of magic... and he does, having Harry Brook caught at midwicket attempting to pull. But for third time in the over, Chris Gaffaney signals no-ball! Huge cheers around Headingley, as Yorkshireman Brook walks back to the crease, with three more balls to survive.
5
2
1
8
Ollie Pope gets to three figures!
He arrived at the end of the first over upon Zak Crawley's wicket, plenty behind, and was fortunate to spend most of Jasprit Bumrah's devilish first spell at the nonstriker's end. Of the six balls he did face one, on 190, was 'guided' through a vacant fourth slip. There was also the guide through a vacant third that took him to fifty.
The biggest miss of all was when Jaiswal dropped him at third slip. He had 60 then, and the 40th run from that miss came via a thick inside edge into the leg side. But he didn't care. And why should he.
In between, there have been a lot of guts and plenty of exceptional shots, particularly the larrup over fine leg when Prasidh Krishna decided to go at him with a few words and some short stuff. The celebration was visceral, and you can understand why. Amid all the talk of the vice-captain being put under pressure by wunderkind Jacob Bethell, he has responded with back-to-back centuries, and his second against India after that 196 at Hyderabad.
One slight dampener for England was the immediate dismissal of Joe Root. Truth be told, he has look, ermmm, skittish since his arrival, playing and missing a lot. Feeling for the ball more than he needs to. This delivery, hung out wide with a bit of shape, entices one last feel, edging to first slip.
3
Shardul gets into the game - for a bit
After all the talk was about Shardul Thakur being a bowling allrounder, his incredibly loose drive for one off eight deliveries was an indication that said descriptor was bang on.
A shame for him, then, that when the time has come for his stronger suit, he finds himself in the midst of a steady partnership between Ollie Pope and Joe Root, with a ball that in the forties that has lots its shine and hardness. It's a thankless task, but one expected of a player picked in his particular role.
Alas, after two overs were taken for 15, he's been whipped out of the attack and replaced by Ravindra Jadeja. Poor Shardul...
Oh he's back, at the other end... and he's been hammered through point by Pope, who moves to 95*
2
3
A third life for Ollie Pope, on 60*
When Ollie Pope got away with a couple of catching height edges through the region of fourth slip (10) and then third slip (48), he could at least take solace in the fact their were no fielders in those positions.
Granted, he was not deliberately guiding them through there, but heck, get a good enough hundred and you can claim to be a threader of cordons, even with those hard hands. Alas, that faux credibility has been punctured by a genuine drop this time.
Twitching at a delivery in an attempt to guide it beyond the cordon, he went a little too narrow and offered Yashasvi Jaiswal a catchable chance to his right at third slip. Sharp but take-able at this level. Jaiswal's reaction - face in the dirt, grimacing as stopped hiding it - said as much.
Idle talk in the press box has turned to *that* Hyderabad innings. It's early days, but this may be luckier... and now Joe Root has been given out LBW for 7 only to then overturn it on review! Siraj the unlucky quick this time.
4
Pope and Duckett broken on 122
On the one hand (at the start), this was a partnership surely not long for this world. And yet here we are, as Ben Duckett reverse-slaps Jadeja through cover, with the left arm spinner targeting the left-hander's leg stump.
Duckett and Ollie Pope's stand is their fourth to go past three figures, and their 12th past fifty. Remarkably, they clock in as the second best second-wicket partnership in Test cricket... ah sorry, make that third now that Duckett has inside edged onto his own stumps to cap it at 122.
It's no less than Bumrah deserves, and would ease the pain from Ollie Pope guiding the first ball of the session through third to move to his half-century. Pope remains as Joe Root emerges to rapturous cheers and "Roooooots" from his home crowd.
3
2
3
2
TEA - England 107 for 1, trailing India 471 by 364 runs
Things looked ominous for England when their first innings began at 2:55pm, under gloomy clouds and a ground illuminated by the floodlights and a scoreboard beaming an imposing India total of 471.
When Jasprit Bumrah struck with his sixth delivery to remove Zak Crawley, the clear and present danger of one of the game’s most devastating fast bowlers was apparent. But fast forward to his single over before tea and both Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope were still in situ, as they would be at the interval, walking with 53* and 48*, respectively. England sitting remarkably pretty on 107 for 1 from just 24 overs thanks to their 103-run stand.
Both, as it happens should and could have fallen to India’s premier quick. After turning Crawley inside out with a delivery that swung in and then seamed away, taking the edge of an angled bat through to Karun Nair at first slip, Bumrah elicited similar from Pope. However England’s No.3 was spared by the abscence of a fourth slip, allowing him to move beyond 10.
Duckett, however, was luckier, foolishly slapping a length delivery from Bumrah straight to Ravindra Jadeja at backward point. Somehow, a fielder of Jadeja’s standing shelled a routine pouch to his right.
Duckett had 15 at the time, and did not necessarily do anything differently to move to a 19th fifty-plus score. Both he and Pope were able to indulge their natural pro-active streaks with a little less jeopardy against Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, milked for 4.11 and 6.40 an over.
It spoke to the fact that, barring a change to atmospheric conditions brought about by a deluge that delayed play after lunch, this was still a fine batting deck. And while Rishabh Pant used it to peel off a sumptuous seventh Test hundred - going level with MS Dhoni with his sixth as India’s wicketkeeper - the rest of the card could not follow.
Including the dismissal of Shubman Gill - the first to fall on day two after a resumption on 359 for 3 - India lost their last seven wickets for just 41 runs. Josh Tongue, who went wicketless for 16 overs on day one, was the main beneficiary, finishing with the very generous figures of 4 for 86. It was skipper Ben Stokes who was the pick of the bowlers, with 4 for 66, accounting for half of the top eight.
1
1
1
1
A selection error for India? Matt Roller has more...
Selection is always easier in hindsight but India must be wishing they had picked Kuldeep Yadav instead of Shardul Thakur.
Shubman Gill insisted on the eve of this match that his focus would always be on taking 20 wickets in selection, but picking Shardul felt like a hedge with his ability to score quick runs from No. 8 and contribute a few overs.
As it has played out, he nicked off for one, and is yet to bowl a ball after 21 overs. Meanwhile Kuldeep, who took 11 wickets in the last two Tests of the reverse series 18 months ago, is running the drinks.
1
1
2
6
Time for Jaddu
43.48 Jadeja's bowling average in England
Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope have not just successful negotiated the seamers but they are galloping towards tea at five an over. Granted, their early time together was fraught with danger (Bumrah) but they have survived and now thrive, forcing Shubman Gill into his first real bit of angst as India captain.
Mohammed Siraj is operating a bit of a hybrid short boy ploy, with two slips in a gully along with square leg and fine leg back. Point is also out.
After 17 overs, Gill turned to Ravindra Jadeja, who boasts a modest record on these shores with 27 wickets from 21 innings. As we saw from Shoaib Bashir, there is turn and bounce on offer... and Jadeja gets it second ball of his second over.
Having dropped short to be cut away behind square by Pope, he corrects his length, draws Pope forward and just beats the edge through to the keeper...
3
2
2
3
Matt Roller on England making progress amid the storm
England’s top order has been put under real pressure here by Jasprit Bumrah’s electrifying first spell of the series, yet they find themselves 54 for 1 after 10 overs and with Bumrah out of the attack. In that sense, this has been a great example of the benefits of their attacking approach with the bat: if they had played for survival in these conditions, there is every chance they would be 20 for 2.
India will already be rueing those missed chances, particularly Jadeja’s uncharacteristic drop at backward point. Shubman Gill must also be aware that there will be more to come today given the way that England play, and avoid falling into the trap that many captains have against them: if he spreads the field, it will enable England’s batters to shift down the gears and take low-risk singles to the sweepers.
2
5
2
7
5 - 2 - 21 - 1
A pretty remarkable and yet totally expected first spell of this series for Jasprit Bumrah has come to an end. He's been immaculate to both left and right-hander, moving the ball away from both, without giving them any scope to leave.
He was rewarded with the wicket of Zak Crawley off his sixth delivery, but has been desperately unlucky since. There was a whiff of a chance just short of gully - Duckett on 1 - before Ollie Pope was turned inside-out by delivery similar to the one that did for Crawley, only for the ball to fly through a vacant fourth slip.
The biggest miss, however, came when he went around the wicket to Duckett. The left-hander, desperate to force something, cut powerfully but straight to Ravi Jadeja at backward point, who shifted well to his right but could not cling on.
Given the choice, you'd pick Jadeja over pretty much anyone on the field. It was a poor miss, that was compounded when Duckett forced the last of Bumrah's spell - a length delivery just outside off, again from around the wicket - through extra cover for four.
Mohammad Siraj - three overs, 0 for 23 from the Rugby Ground End - has picked up matters from the Kirkstall Lane End. Let's see if the down slope helps him find some rhythm...
1
2
4
2
Bumrah strikes immediately!
A stonker, angled in quick, nipping away quicker.
Zak Crawley was closing the face a touch, though that's part of the misdirection and confusion Jasprit Bumrah causes.
Matt Roller has just unearthed this lovely little tidbit on Bumrah v Crawley...
2024: 163 balls, 76 runs, 1 dismissal
2025: 6 balls, 4 runs, 1 dismissal
6
6
8
2
Let's try this again...
The players are re-assuming their positions. Duckett and Crawley have this time sprinted out to the middle - an absolute Baz McCullum play if ever we've seen one. Positive intent, running towards the danger that is Jasprit Bumrah with the new ball...
Obviously there's a delay because someone is behind the bowler's arm...
1
1
1
3
Actually, scratch that... it has started raining
Just as Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley stepped onto the field, the umpires were shooing them and the India players off and calling for the covers.
It is actually raining. Probably about on time as per the morning's forecast, so well done them. There are now covers being brought on to cover the bowler's run-up.
Meanwhile, Sai Sudharsan, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Abhimanyu Easwaran are using the boundary sponge in front of the India dressing room to play football-tennis. An indication of how meek this rain is to be causing a delay...
Reddy
8
3
3
6
Tongue wags - the tail doesn't
Tongue’s figures looked ugly overnight – 0 for 75 from 16 overs, with no maidens – but he responded with the big wicket of Rishabh Pant in his second over today and has now played a valuable role in cleaning up India’s tail. It has been a classic recipe to the tail: hard lengths interspersed with full balls, at a quick enough pace to burst through the defences of lower-order batters.
He finishes with 4 for 86 from 20 – so 4 for 11 from his four overs today – and while he has not bowled anywhere near his best, those late wickets will take the focus off him. From 430 for 3 moments before Shubman Gill was out, India must be wondering how they have failed to reach 500.
The covers are off, India are in their huddle and the umpires are walking out to two set of stumps in the ground. It's happening people...
1
3
4
India 471 all out!
That's all she wrote!
A quite amazing collapse, really, as India lose their final 7 wickets for 41, dismissed 23 minutes after lunch. The lights have been on after the break and there is a bit of drizzle. Nothing too heavy just yet with the roller going up and down on the pitch with the covers primed.
Back to that collapse - it was amazing because it crept up on, well, everyone. A century laden top six that also featured a couple of ducks has given way for a real folding from the lower order. And it was all the more boggling considering Josh Tongue, who had gone wicketless for 16 overs on day one has just walked off with figures of 4 for 84.
Both England openers - and Ollie Pope - charged off the field, but they may be saved if the rain picks up soon enough. Otherwise, they've got to face Jasprit Bumrah - first on the field to warm-up - et al in these dark and treacherous conditions...
1
3
2
2
Play underway after lunch... with the lights on
We've recommenced at Headingley, with Ben Stokes bowling the last two deliveries of the 109th over.
That completed a seven-over spell, and, given the attention on his workloads, Josh Tongue has picked up matters from the Kirkstall Lane End.
Michael Atherton, commentating on Sky, turns to Stuart Broad and asks, "You wouldn't have the ball taken our of your hand if you had four wickets..." But needs must. And would you look at that - Tongue has a wicket! Full, touch of movement, nicked to Harry Brook at second slip.
2
2
Covers coming on at the lunch interval...
As I mentioned at the top of the show, there were storms forecast for the afternoon. It looks like they might be upon us...
The Headingley ground staff line up the covers as the pitch markings are getting a lick of paint. It has suddenly got very blustery out there. Our great leader Andrew Miller has fired up his satellites, which is never a good sign...
1
1
1
3
Lunch, Day 2 - India 454 for 7
Rishabh Pant’s seventh Test century reasserted India’s day one dominance, only for them to cede ground back to England as they lost four wickets for 24 heading into the lunch break of day two of this first Test at Headingley.
It was more or less all India for the first 90 minutes of Saturday’s morning session, and the manner of the 95 runs added spoke of not just an upperhand but a degree of menace. Pant provided 70 of them, at his mischievours best, to the extent that even this majority English crowd rued his demise.
He was a one-man circus of heaves and tumbles, the first of them coming when he greeted Shoaib Bashir’s first delivery with a fall-away paddle over his shoulder. The second was more choreographed after lifting Bashir over wide-midwicket to bring up his sixth hundred as wicketkeeper, from his 146th delivery. Only MS Dhoni has as many for India, with this a third century on these shores - no other keeper-batter has one than one - that also sits top of his three-figure knocks for most sixes (six).
There were no chances offered, per se, until, on 124, he ran past a delivery from Bashir and was forced to reclaim his ground on his hands and knees, having flung the bat away towards fine leg. Jamie Smith failed to capitalise on the error, but his blushes were saved when Josh Tongue, hidden in the field for most of this session, was able to catch Pant not playing a shot to trap him LBW.
With Gill having been removed on 147 - lifting Bashir to Tongue at deep square leg - to end a fourth wicket stand on 209, and Karun Nair’s eight-year hiatus amounting to a four-ball duck - plucked gloriously out of the air by Ollie Pope at cover - Pant’s dismissal was a nod to the need for a touch of consolidation from the hosts. But with lunch looming, Shardul Thakur clumsily chased a wide delivery through to Smith.
It was Ben Stokes’ second wicket of the morning, now with 4 for 66 at the break. Yet again, the England captain has been the pick of the bowlers.
2
3
3
4
Matt Roller on a tough four sessions for Josh Tongue
This has been a rough Test for Josh Tongue who has only just returned to the attack for the first time since England took the second new ball. He started his first spell with a shin-high full toss yesterday and while he has generally bowled with decent pace, he was punished whenever he overpitched: he has bowled 16 ‘full’ balls, per ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball logs, and conceded 29 runs from them.
Shubman Gill was particularly severe on him, scoring 34 off 31 balls in their head-to-head, and Tongue’s inconsistency has been best summed up by the fact that he is yet to bowl a maiden in his first 17 overs. After an impressive start to the season for Nottinghamshire, Tongue is tailing off at just the wrong time.
1
1
1
Does that count as a jinx?
Nair is no more, plucked out of the air at cover by Ollie Pope for a duck!
It's a tame end, really, guiding a full ball from Ben Stokes that was a touch too wide to go at with a drive through over. Maybe he could have square-driven it but, four balls in, the prospect of a gift was too great to resist.
1
3
Welcome back, Karun Nair...
Shubman Gill falls for 147 and the applause as he leaves doubles up with some hearty cheers as Karun Nair emerges into the light.
More than eight years after his last appearance in Test cricket, he is back. What a journey it has been...
2
3
2
3
Slowly setting the record straight...
2
2
2
1
Head over heels!
It's a special hundred for Rishabh Pant!
Never mind that it is the third of the innings, it has probably been the most entertaining. He is the kind of bloke to make a walk to the shops a laugh, and here he is, on a flat one, cashing in himself while giving the fans what they want.
Shot of the morning might be his tumbling ramp to Shoaib Bashir's first ball of day two. And those early years as a gymnast come to the fore after he lifts Bashir one-handed over midwicket to bring up his century from 146 deliveries. The helmet comes off, as do the gloves, the bat is placed down before a front-flip into a hug from Shubman Gill.
Pant's seventh Test century is also a seminal one; only MS Dhoni has as many centuries as an Indian wicketkeeper (six). This is also his third in England. No visiting keeper has more than one...
2
4
2
2
"You're leaving amazing, sweetie!"
5
2
1
2
150 and counting...
103 Woakes brings up his century... from 23 overs
The conventional stylist, the renegade southpaw. Captain and vice-captain. Right-left.
Quite a duo, Gill and Pant, as they push their stand past 150 with ease. England are being a bit formulaic here, in part because the ball is still new and, according to Stuart Broad on Sky, the pitch should be about to spring to some semblance of life once the effects of the morning's roller have worn off. Their lines are straighter and fuller for now.
But these two batters are making steady progress, barely breaking a sweat with their contrasting methods. And just as Chris Woakes fails to get out of his over with a no ball that would have capped it at seven deliveries, the eighth is guided down to the third boundary with consumate ease.
And that's three figures for Woakes...
3
1
2
3
Gill's changed his socks... but he's not changed his shots
The second new ball is five overs old, so Ben Stokes has understandably started the day with his opening bowlers.
The problem is, just like last night, it's pinging off the bat. Gill opens day two's boundary account with a gorgeous extra cover drive, beating Ben Stokes' desperate dive to his right at an orthodox cover position.
As Gill turns after a quick saunter down the pitch to admire the shot, his bright white socks come into view. Blinding white, actually, as if they're fresh out of a deep bleach wash. Presumably they needed an extra day to dry, hence Friday's black numbers.
Pant's not quite got one out of the screws, but he's certainly carried over the intent into the morning. Carse isn't amused when he charges and completely misses a hack into the Western Terrace. One closer to the body comes in an attempt to keep Pant honest, but that's flicked away fine for the left-hander's first boundary.
3
3
2
1
FOUR centuries, Sourav?
That's insane...
OK, it's not. What a flex though; predicting a couple more centuries, referencing a Test where you yourself bagged a casual 128 off 167 deliveries and - the pièce de résistance
- calling Sachin "champ". Magnifique.
6
5
4
3
Gill and Pant - Boyz n the Mood?
Welcome welcome welcome to day two of this first Test between England and India!
I was going to use “versus” instead of “and” there, but that would paint an inaccurate picture of a contest. It was anything but on Friday. Shubman Gill’s first day as Test captain could not have gone any better.
The weather in Leeds this morning is as confusingly glorious as it has been over the last few weeks. There is, however, a storm forecast for this afternoon, which is supposedly going to hit the Leeds area around 2pm. It may miss us, but I suppose we will have to wait to find out…
England were cursing their luck about how the pitch played, and may end up in the eye of said storm for their first innings. But as much as they might lament yesterday's toil, they did not bowl that well. And when they did, Yashasvi Jaiswal was more than equal to it.
The only person busier than Ben Stokes yesterday was our Sid Monga, who churned out two bangers that are linked above. There's every chance he'll be writing about a third Indian century in, what, maybe an hour into play? Rishabh Pant lurks expectantly on 65*.
I'll be on the Live Report throughout the day, plus there's our excellent ball-by-ball commentary.
5
3
3
1
India 359 for 3
The two faces of India’s new generation of Test batters traded sparkling centuries to dominate England on the opening day at Headingley. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill cruised to hundreds as opener and No. 4 respectively, shrugging off the absence of two modern greats whose retirements have vacated those roles: no Rohit, no Virat, no problem.
Jaiswal plundered 712 runs in India’s home series against England 18 months ago; here, he provided further evidence of his adaptability. His century was a masterclass in off-side strokeplay: each of his 17 boundaries, including a vicious cut for six over cover, came on the off side, and he took only 48 balls to move from 50 to 100.
But Gill’s innings, his first as captain, was even better. He embodied the tempo that he wants from his side, charging to his fastest half-century (off 56 balls) without offering a chance before cruising serenely to three figures. After lashing a cover drive for four to reach his sixth Test hundred, he bowed to a standing ovation from his team-mates on the dressing-room balcony.
33
31
26
Pant reaches 50...
...in typical Pant fashion. England take the new ball, throw it to Chris Woakes, and after one defensive shot, Pant has seen enough. He gets down on one knee to slog-sweep, throws the kitchen sink at it, and toe-ends through mid-on for a truly filthy boundary. Everything seems to be going India's way - and Pant has brought up 3,000 Test runs to boot.
17
25
16
6
The world reacts
Some things clearly are written in the stars Congratulations @ShubmanGill on your first overseas century as Test captain You clearly understand what a serious responsibility it is and you’ve let your bat do all the talking Well done and here’s to many more! #INDvsENG
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) June 20, 2025
That’s the way to Bat .. any youngsters starting out to try and Bat please follow @ShubmanGill .. #ENGvsIND .. a Perfect
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 20, 2025
New skipper, new series, what a way to start! A very important hundred of Gill's career. Well played skipper @ShubmanGill #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/HSHDSlVl1e
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) June 20, 2025
5
9
8
1
Rarefied company
India players who have scored a century in their first match as Test captain:
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 20, 2025
Vijay Hazare
Sunil Gavaskar
Dilip Vengsarkar
Virat Kohli
pic.twitter.com/3r0a0kBcbI
10
18
10
1
The Prince's coronation
Few positions in world sport have a legacy quite like India's Test No. 4. For two-and-a-half decades, two of the all-time greats - Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli - have had locked it down, and Shubman Gill would have been well aware of the expectations on the role when he agreed with coach Gautam Gambhir that he should bat there.
His first innings there could not have gone better. Gill has played fluently all day and unlike Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored almost exclusively on the off side, has scored heavily on both sides of the wicket. He reached three figures by lacing a cover-drive for four off Josh Tongue, and celebrated with a bow to his team-mates on the India balcony.
Gill has long been dubbed 'the prince' in Indian cricket. This might be the day that he became king.
14
18
8
1
Pant raises India's 300
That's the Rishabh Pant we know and love. Shoaib Bashir has bowled with a long-on all day, but Pant knows that if he connects, he can clear him comfortably. He decides to charge down and belt Bashir back over his head for six, and this ends up in the second tier of the Howard Stand. India have 300, Gill is closing in on three figures, and the partnership is worth 79.
5
6
7
Thoughts turn to the toss...
4
4
3
6
Pant gets away with one
Shoaib Bashir has been quietly impressive for England this afternoon, keeping one end tied down while conceding fewer than three runs per over. Rishabh Pant has been uncharacteristically subdued against spin, meanwhile, but decided in the 68th over it was time to break loose: he attempted to smack him over midwicket, but his steepling top edge was only just out of reach for the backpedalling Zak Crawley.
27 Pant's strike rate against spin today, his second-lowest in a Test innings
5
8
4
8
Stokes' long spell
Ben Stokes has been England's most threatening - and most successful - bowler today, and has decided to take himself out of the attack after bowling six overs unchanged after the tea interval. Stokes twice injured his hamstring in the second half of last year and has only played one competitive match in 2025: he will be wary of pushing himself too hard with the ball, especially this early in the series.
5
4
5
Pant's back
Rishabh Pant missed India's 4-1 win against England at the start of last year as he was still recovering from the injuries he suffered in his horrific car crash.
But he seems to enjoy batting against England: in his last Test against them, the rearranged fifth Test of the 2021 (and 2022) series at Edgbaston, he hit 146 off 111 balls in the first innings, then added 57 in the second.
He charged down the pitch to his second ball today and slapped Ben Stokes back over his head for four - prompting laughter from Stokes - and the pair had another smirk soon after, when an offcutter slipped out as a dipping full toss that Pant had to push away in defence.
6
4
2
1
Stokes strikes!
England's captain takes matters into his own hands. He brings himself back on for the second over after tea, and cleans Jaiswal up with his third ball. It's a bail-trimmer, a hint of movement on a good length, and Jaiswal plays around it. He walks back for a brilliant 101, and in strides Rishabh Pant.
813 Yashasvi Jaiswal's total Test runs vs England, in just 10 innings
16
15
16
5
Tea: India 215 for 2
Tea - India 215 for 2 (Jaiswal 100*, Gill 58*) vs England
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s sparkling hundred put India in charge of the first Test at Headingley. Jaiswal became the first Indian batter to score centuries in his first match in both Australia and England, and his innings was a masterclass in off-side strokeplay: only nine of his first 100 runs came on the leg side, and he cut and drove England’s seamers into submission.
Jaiswal’s third-wicket partnership with Shubman Gill stood at an unbroken 123 at the tea interval, with Gill’s attacking tempo the most notable feature of his maiden innings as Test captain. Gill reached his half-century in just 56 balls, his fastest in Tests, as England’s inexperienced attack toiled on an unusually hot day in Leeds.
But it was Jaiswal who was the most dominant, reaching three figures by carving Brydon Carse for back-to-back boundaries before pinching a quick single towards point. His second 50 took just 48 balls, and he did not offer a single catching chance. His only scare came on 45, when Carse hit him on the toe with a fast yorker but only after overstepping.
Gill looked anxious to get his innings up and running, and gave Ollie Pope an opportunity to run him out off his sixth ball when he attempted a tight single to midwicket. Gill would have been short of his ground if Pope’s throw had been a direct hit; instead, it trickled away to the boundary, a moment which would encapsulate England’s session.
Chris Woakes struggled for control in a spell of 0 for 38 in six overs after lunch, while Shoaib Bashir’s first ball of the series was sliced for four by Jaiswal. He was later dumped over his head, though it was Carse who suffered the ignominy of conceding the first six of the series, cut over cover-point when Ben Stokes demanded a bouncer barrage.
5
10
5
1
Jaiswal tons up!
1 Jaiswal is the first Indian batter to score a century in both their first Test in Australia, and their first Test in England. He's only the fifth batter overall to achieve the same feat.
A special innings from a special player. Yashasvi Jaiswal loves playing against England, and belts Brydon Carse away for back-to-back boundaries to move to 99. He then drops and runs into the off side, and raises his arms aloft to celebrate his fifth Test hundred, and third against England.
Jaiswal has been struggling with cramps in the last 15 minutes or so: it is a warm day here in Leeds by English standards, and he has prepared for this series with his usual high-volume training sessions. But he is fit enough to race through to three figures; his second 50 came off just 48 balls.
11
15
8
Wood targeting fifth Test
Mark Wood has declared that he is targeting a comeback from knee surgery in the fifth Test of this series. Wood was expected to miss the duration of this Test series but is at Headingley working for the BBC's Test Match Special and said that he still hopes to play a part.
"Rehab is going well," Wood said. "I’ve just started bowling very lightly, so I’m on the comeback trail now officially. I’m hoping still to play a part in this series, so I get to have a look at some of the players here who I might come up against.
"I’m still targeting probably the last Test. Anything before that is maybe a bit too soon. The last Test, I might not get there, but at the minute, that’s still my focus that I might play a part.
"It’s been a bit slow to start with. I haven’t been able to do a lot, but starting to speed up now, getting some bowling in, hopefully not too much longer. [I'm] still hoping that I can play a part right at the end of the series, but I’ll just wait and see."
2
1
2
1
Jaiswal's off-side dominance
10 Runs out of 86 scored on the leg side by Yashasvi Jaiswal in this innings.
3
3
3
3
Monga on Gill
Sidharth Monga at Headingley: I had no doubt in my mind that Shubman Gill was going to score runs on Bazball pitches against an attack of Chris Woakes and nobody who has played more than five Tests. Actually, I never had any doubts he was going to score runs in tougher conditions against better attacks. But when you are made the India captain with an average of 35, and no hundreds outside Asia and the West Indies, you need to get those early runs to cast aside the voices as soon as possible.
Gill is a special batter. He has a career control percentage nudging 90. He has just faced some really difficult conditions early in his career, and you sometimes need some luck on those. On the first day of his captaincy, he has been offered perhaps the easiest conditions Gill has had in the said countries. Or at all. And he has not just accumulated but raced away. He is 51 in a stand on 89.
Gill will want to go on, get three figures on, and demand the authority he needs as the captain.
10
10
5
1
Gill's fastest fifty
56 Balls taken for Shubman Gill to reach 50 at Headingley, his fastest in Tests. His previous quickest half-century came off 60 balls, also against England, in Vizag last year.
9
11
9
The first six of the series
26 Sixes Jaiswal hit vs England in early 2024
Stokes has gone to his short-ball plan, setting a field for a bumper barrage from Josh Tongue. But Jaiswal is more than happy to take him on, and crashes a cut over cover-point for half a dozen.
7
7
7
Bashir vs Jaiswal
185 Runs Jaiswal scored off Shoaib Bashir in the 2024 series between these teams, off 196 balls for twice out.
Shoaib Bashir is into the attack for the first time today, and Jaiswal flashes his first ball away for four behind square on the off side. He struggled to keep a lid on Jaiswal's scoring in the reverse series 18 months ago - as most of England's bowlers did - and he will come under sustained pressure from India's batters over the next six weeks.
5
3
3
1
Woakes takes a pasting
4
•
4
•
4
1
Chris Woakes has struggled since lunch, conceding eight boundaries in his last four overs. He hasn't been able to find his usual immaculate length, being driven when he errs too full and cut when he drops short. His six overs in this spell have brought him figures of 0 for 38, and it must be time for a look at Shoaib Bashir before long.
8
4
6
50 for Jaiswal
6 50-plus scores for Jaiswal against England, in 10 innings
Yashasvi Jaiswal works one off his chest through square leg, and jogs through for a single which brings him a half-century in his first innings in England. He was their scourge in the Anthony de Mello Trophy in early 2024, piling on 724 runs, and has started the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in similar fashion.
6
7
5
Who would England and India fans take from the opposition?
Which player would India and England fans like to take from the opposing team? pic.twitter.com/sBOocVtR31
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 20, 2025
2
2
2
1
Jaiswal escapes
Brydon Carse traps Yashasvi Jaiswal on the boot with a yorker, which he digs out into the gully but after the ball hit his toe first. It looked as though Jaiswal would have been absolute plumb on review - but Carse had overstepped, ruling out the possibility of England taking one. Not quite a life, but a fortunate escape on 45 for Jaiswal.
4
4
4
2
Manjrekar on Gill
2
2
3
GIll gets lucky
•
•
•
5
•
•
It's not often that you see a five in any cricket, but India's new captain Shubman Gill has scored one in the first full over after lunch. He got off the mark with a quick single through the covers off Stokes, and looked to tip-and-run again off his sixth ball, working into the leg side.
It was a poorly-judged run, and Ollie Pope would have run him out with a direct hit from short midwicket. But his throw was wide, and flew away to the boundary for four overthrows.
4
7
4
Sudharsan's unwanted record
6 Sai Sudharsan is only the sixth Indian top-three batter to bag a duck on Test debut, at the first at No. 3.
1
7
Lunch: India 92 for 2
Session report: England took two wickets in six balls on the stroke of lunch to change the complexion of the first session of the newly-minted Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. India’s openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, had been largely untroubled throughout their 91-run opening stand after being put in by Ben Stokes, but Rahul and debutant Sai Sudharsan fell just before the interval.
Jaiswal batted through the first session of his first Test in England unscathed, and traded crisply-struck boundaries with Rahul. The pair shared 16 fours, all through the off side, as England’s seamers tried and failed to induce outside edges, and did not offer a catching chance for the first 114 minutes of the day.
The only scare for Jaiswal came when he was struck on the ribs by Brydon Carse, who shared the new ball with Chris Woakes in his first home Test. He otherwise scored fluently and batted with the same freedom he had shown in the most recent series between these teams, when he piled on 712 runs in five matches.
England were so desperate for a wicket that they burned an lbw review on a ball from around the wicket which pitched outside leg stump. Josh Tongue bowled with good pace and his inswinger trapped Jaiswal on the pad in his second over, but the decision to review was hugely optimistic and reflected their frustrations.
But Carse struck with a full, wide outswinger, which Rahul edged straight to Joe Root at slip for 42, and debutant Sudharsan strangled his fourth ball in Test cricket down the leg side to Jamie Smith off Stokes. England’s double-strike left the game in the balance, and took some of the scrutiny off Stokes’ decision to bowl first at the toss.
3
7
3
6
Sudharsan falls for 0
•
•
•
•
W
•
1
•
•
W
Two in six balls for England! Sai Sudharsan punches his bat in frustration, and falls for a duck in his maiden Test innings. He got a snorter of a first ball from Carse, and off his third, England appealed for a leg-side strangle off Stokes. His fourth proved to be his final one: Stokes sprayed the ball down the leg side, but Sudharsan could only inside-edge through to Jamie Smith. That has completely changed the complexion of the session.
4
4
5
21
Carse gets KL
England finally have the breakthrough. They've hung the ball outside off stump all morning - every boundary so far has been on the off side - and Carse went full and wide here. It wasn't a great ball, but Rahul went chasing after it and his thick outside edge flew straight to Root at first slip. The opening stand, worth 91, is broken, and Sai Sudharsan walks out on Test debut.
4
2
1
10
Did England make the wrong call?
Sidharth Monga at Headingley: No wicket in the first 110 minutes after inserting India in, and the temptation is go after statspeople. The word going around pretty quickly was that this was a decision made on stats – last six Headingley Tests won by chasing sides and only six out of 28 Tests in Bazball era won by sides batting first – and not on the conditions.
One, there is a lot of hindsight involved in that criticism. Both the captains wanted to bowl first. The head of ground, a Bradford League legend batter himself, said the thing to do was to bowl first. And the reason is that whatever assistance there is, it is on the fresh pitch. It is hot and breezy and going to flatten out quickly.
It will be more difficult for the team bowling second to take wickets here. So you want to give your bowlers the most help they can get. This is not a bad decision at the toss, but the bowling has left a little to be desired. Josh Tongue has looked the most threatening, and that’s because of straighter lines. The others pivoted too late from bowling that channel.
The second hour was better than the first with 16 false shots in 11.4 overs as against 17 in the first 14. Given that it will get flatter and is not expected to break, bowling first still seems to the right call unless the mysterious scoreboard pressure becomes a factor.
Or the overcast conditions on day three, which became the forecast late evening yesterday after a whole week of predictions of a baking weekend. Now you can’t quite base your toss decision on the fluctuating forecast.
1
1
1
Leave it alone
49 Leaves by India's openers in the first 20 overs at Headingley.
Shiva Jayaraman from ESPNcricinfo's stats team: This is the highest percentage leaves in the first 20 overs by visiting batters in England in the last 24 Test innings. The last time visiting batters were allowed to leave more deliveries by England bowlers in England was in the first Test of the 2021 Pataudi series, where India openers added 97 runs, their highest opening stand in the first innings of a Test series in England."
3
2
2
Rahul in cruise control
KL Rahul hits back-to-back boundaries off Ben Stokes: the first slashed hard away over the slips, the second guided with more control. He has looked the more solid opener this morning and has changed his approach somewhat, generally taking a leg-stump guard with a minimal trigger movement.
4
4
•
1
•
1
9
9
7
3
Have England's seamers missed a trick?
Sidharth Monga at Headingley: In Australia, a byplay was Yashasvi Jaiswal’s starts against Mitchell Starc. He usually likes to stand on middle and leg and shuffle across closer to the ball. Starc was onto it, and kept trying to get him to fall over with a full and straight ball.
First ball of first Test, pitched on middle and leg, had Jaiswal falling over, but seamed in extravagantly to miss the pad and the exposed leg stump. The first ball of the second Test had him out lbw. Jaiswal’s response was to ove his guard to outside leg so that he was not falling over after his shuffle.
He is back to standing on middle and leg, and I was keen to see if England would look to go full and straight and swing it in against the engle. They have been more keen to use the wobble ball here, and have hardly looked to get him lbw. Which is strange because Chris Woakes got him lbw with the full inswinger in the Lions game.
Josh Tongue, the first-change bowler, hit the pad early in his spell with a full and straight ball, but it was more a case of sliding too far leg and thus missing his bat rather than Jaiswal falling over.
Overall as well, just seven balls were hitting the wickets in the first 12 overs. Not saying they would have got a wicket by now, but I assume England would have troubled India more had they attacked the stumps more. India will do that.
6
3
3
2
Bethell to play for Warwickshire
Jacob Bethell missed out on selection for this Test, with Ollie Pope preferred at No. 3, and is set to play for Warwickshire against Somerset in the County Championship on Sunday. Sam Cook will also leave the England camp tomorrow evening and play for Essex against Hampshire this weekend, though Jamie Overton is set to stay at Headingley.
Bethell has now played a first-class match this calendar year, and has still not scored a century in any professional cricket. This weekend would be a good time to change that.
3
3
2
50 up for India
2 This is only the second time that Jaiswal and Rahul have put on 50+ for the first wicket in Tests. The previous time came in the second innings in Perth last year, when they added 201.
Namooh Shah from ESPNcricinfo's stats team: Jaiswal and Rahul are the first visiting openers since Peter Fulton and Hamish Rutherford (New Zealand, 2013) to put on a 50-run partnership at Headingley.
5
4
4
1
England burn a review
Josh Tongue, playing his fourth Test, makes an inauspicious start with a full toss first up, but then nails Jaiswal on the back pad with an inswinging yorker from around the wicket.
England get overexcited after finally creating a half-chance for wicket, and decide to review despite the fact this was clearly swinging down the leg side. In fact, the ball pitched outside leg stump, so might not have hit another set.
But Tongue has made a decent start, with his pace up at 90mph/145kph.
4
4
2
2
Carse hits Jaiswal
A couple of sketchy moments for Yashasvi Jaiswal. He is beaten on the outside edge as Woakes gets one to shape away significantly, then missed out as he attempts to slash a cut through point off Carse.
Three balls later, he wears one in the ribs: he gets himself blocked off, unable to free his arms at a rising back-of-a-length ball, and takes it on the body. That must have stung.
3
3
3
3
Cook: Good toss to lose?
Alastair Cook, the former England captain, seems unconvinced by Ben Stokes' decision to bowl first. Speaking on the BBC's Test Match Special, he says:
"The fact it’s so hot… If you bowl first and don’t bowl them out, you’re bowling all day. England are guaranteed to bowl all day, and probably a bit tomorrow, looking at the conditions, unless India don’t bat as well as they’ve started. Therefore, you’re backing up. Say India bat 120 overs. They only have to bowl for two sessions [on day two]. You feel like you can control the game more if you bat first."
6
6
5
1
Karthik: KL 'at the forefront' of new India
KL Rahul has had a curious Test career, interrupted by a couple of injuries, but has enjoyed success in England before: he is one of three players in this squad with a Test hundred in this country, along with Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant.
59 Test caps won by KL Rahul; only Ravindra Jadeja (81) has more within India's squad.
Dinesh Karthik, on Sky Sports commentary, says he has a huge role to play in Shubman Gill's team.
"We speak about young India and generational change, and he’s at the forefront of it all. If he stays injury-free, here’s his opportunity to play the next five-six years consistently as an opening batter. They see the talent in him; that’s why he’s always there in any big series. If you are the Indian captain, you won’t go to a foreign shore without KL Rahul in your team. But it’s up to him to make it big in a five-Test match series like this: be consistent, be that 500-run getter."
1
2
1
India up and running
Yashasvi Jaiswal was the leading run-scorer when these two teams lasted played Test cricket 18 months ago, and opens India's account at Leeds. He's not in full control as the ball skews away off the outside half of his bat and runs away behind square, but he gets through Chris Woakes' first over unscathed.
Sid Monga, who is sat next to me at Headingley, wrote this week that a five-match series in England will be another test of Jaiswal's adaptability.
4
5
2
Karun's comeback
Welcome back to Test cricket, Karun pic.twitter.com/Xzb6BDdef2
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 20, 2025
4
5
3
1
Shastri in town
Sidharth Monga at Headingley: When I started in the morning, aiming to make the 8.56am bus from Roundhay Park, it really didn’t look like a Test morning. Then I turned up at my stop to discover the 8.56 had been cancelled. Cricket must be around.
On the bus, I was bumped off my Spotify. That’s because the Amazon Echo Dot at home was using my Spotify to play jazz for the dogs. Jazz must be on when they are alone at home.
At the changeover in city, the new bus got a new driver to add five more minutes to the commute. Two lads dressed for cricket got on. They quizzed each other on cricket before one asked the other, “When do we know who will bat first? An hour before?”
Then they put on a video on their phone. I could hear Ravi Shastri on air, making fun of a kid in the stands eating ice-cream. And then one of them said, “This is going to haunt me through the day.” Thanks Shaz, these kids will be scared of eating ice-cream on this hot day. Good job Shastri is not here.
I finally turn up and what do I see? Shaz at the toss. Cricket must be around.
2
5
2
England will bowl first
England won the toss and chose to bowl first vs India
B Sai Sudharsan will bat at No. 3 on his Test debut for India against England at Headingley, while Karun Nair returns to international cricket after an eight-year absence. India have picked four seamers for the first Test, including the allrounder Shardul Thakur at No. 8, but it is their batters who will be put to the test on the first morning after Ben Stokes chose to bowl first.
The last six Tests at Headingley have been won by the team bowling first, which might explain Stokes’ decision despite the bright sunshine in Leeds. “Headingley is generally a very good cricket wicket,” Stokes said at the toss. “Hopefully, we can look to use the early conditions, and try to get a bit out of it… We’re all excited, we’re all ready to go.”
Shubman Gill, captaining India for the first time in Tests, said he would have chosen to bowl first, but predicted the pitch would become a “really good batting wicket” after the first session. “The sun is out. It looks like a good batting day for us,” Gill said. “The preparation has been amazing.”
England named their team two days before the toss, with Ollie Pope retaining his spot at No. 3 ahead of Jacob Bethell, and Brydon Carse set to open the bowling with Chris Woakes. Josh Tongue and Stokes are their other seamers, while Shoaib Bashir is their frontline spinner.
Prasidh Krishna joins Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj as India’s third frontline seamer, with Thakur providing an all-round option. Ravindra Jadeja is their only spinner, with Kuldeep Yadav left out.
6
7
5
1
Sai Sudharsan gets his cap
Cheteshwar Pujara has presented B Sai Sudharsan with his India cap. He has three ODI caps and one T20I cap to his name, and his Test debut today completes the set. Sudharsan has been a heavy run-scorer in short-form cricket - he won the Orange Cap in IPL 2025 - but he's averaging just below 40 in first-class cricket.
Deivarayan Muthu profiled Sudharsan earlier this month, and wrote about his "insatiable appetite" for cricket.
9
16
9
2
Captain Gill gears up
60 seconds of skipper Shubman preparing for his first Test in charge pic.twitter.com/aC9qDxeuKe
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 19, 2025
15
12
10
4
Root closes in
208 Catches taken by Joe Root in Test cricket; only Rahul Dravid (210) has more among fielders.
9
2
3
4
Stokes predicts 'chaos'
Ben Stokes has encouraged his England players to be “smarter” in their decision-making ahead of this series and after three years of entertainment, delivered a clear message: “It’s about winning.” In his programme notes, England’s captain predicts there will be “chaos” at some stage over the next six weeks.
Any time England play India it is always a huge occasion and when that happens over the course of a five-Test series, things only get bigger.
When two hungry teams come up against each other so frequently in a relatively short space of time, you know it’s going to be a battle and I can’t wait to see some of that chaos unfold.
You can make as many plans as you want, but I know something will come up this summer that we’ve never seen before. Test cricket challenges your ability to react to new situations and take quick decisions and it’s exciting to be in the middle of that.
4
4
4
2
Sai Sudharsan set for debut
Nagraj Gollapudi reports that B Sai Sudharsan is set to make his Test debut today, winning cap number 317 and batting at No. 3, while the returning Karun Nair is expected to bat at No. 6.
Shardul Thakur is set to bat at No. 8, with Prasidh Krishna joining Jaspirt Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj in the seam attack. That would mean no space for Kuldeep Yadav or Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Shubman Gill, India's new captain, said yesterday that he will prioritise wicket-taking in selection over runs from down the order, even if it means picking four genuine tailenders from No. 8-11. It'll be fascinating to see how India's balance evolves through this series.
9
5
4
2
Black armbands
ECB statement: Both teams will wear black armbands on Day 1 of the Test match as a mark of respect for those who lost their lives in the Air India plane crash last week in Ahmedabad. A moment’s silence will be observed prior to the respective national anthems.
8
7
2
4
Welcome to Leeds
The time for talking is nearly over. After a long build-up, England and India will get the newly-minted Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy underway in 90 minutes’ time, with the toss coming up in an hour. There’s a real sense of anticipation and expectation at Headingley, with the crowd starting to filter in.
It’s been unusually warm in Yorkshire this week and it’s a hot, sticky morning by English standards. My weather app suggests temperatures will peak at 29 degrees in the afternoon session. The pitch has some live grass on it but is generally hard and true here, with short boundaries and a fast outfield lending this venue to high scoring rates.
I’ll be on the Live Report throughout the day with all the latest news, analysis, stats and colour from the venue. If you’re looking for our world-famous ball-by-ball commentary, join Ashish Pant here.
2
5
3
1