IND vs ENG 1st Test Day 4 Live: India Eye Strong Lead as Rahul, Gill Steady the Ship at Headingley
Leeds, June 23 — Day 3 of the gripping first Test between India and England ended with the visitors narrowly ahead, and all eyes are now on KL Rahul and Shubman Gill to take charge on Day 4. India closed the third day at 90/2, leading by 96 runs, after dismissing England for 465 in their first innings.
The highlight of the day was once again Jasprit Bumrah, who delivered a sensational performance, claiming 5/83 in 24.4 overs. This marked his 14th five-wicket haul in Tests and third on English soil, equalling Kapil Dev’s record for the most away five-fors by an Indian. Bumrah also became the first fast bowler to take 11 five-fors in the WTC era.
Despite his heroics, India’s fielding woes continued, with four dropped catches off his bowling allowing England to build partnerships. Harry Brook fell agonisingly short of a century on 99, while Woakes and Carse added crucial lower-order runs to reduce India’s advantage.
In reply, India’s second innings began cautiously. KL Rahul stood out with a calm and fluent 47 off 75 balls*, showcasing top-class technique and poise under pressure. Debutant Sai Sudharsan, who scored 30, partnered with Rahul for a vital 66-run stand before falling to Ben Stokes. Shubman Gill, who scored a century in the first innings on captaincy debut, was unbeaten on 6 at stumps.
Rain and bad light forced early stumps on Day 3, and weather interruptions are expected to continue into Days 4 and 5. India’s immediate aim will be to build a lead beyond 250, giving their bowlers a total to defend on a surface showing variable bounce but still offering decent conditions for batting.
Former cricketers heaped praise on Rahul’s knock. Sanjay Manjrekar called it “perfection in motion,” while Nick Knight described it as a “masterclass in balance and control.” Both agreed that Rahul’s technical brilliance has been a key factor in India’s overseas success.
Meanwhile, Shubman Gill’s leadership continues to impress, with his confident field placements and tactical decisions drawing comparisons to seasoned captains. He now faces the challenge of guiding India to a match-winning total in his debut as Test captain.
England, on the other hand, will look to strike early on Day 4. With Stokes and Carse probing effectively, a few quick wickets could tilt the momentum back in the hosts’ favour. However, India’s deep batting lineup, including Pant, Jadeja, and Thakur, gives them a solid chance of pushing the game out of England’s reach.
The Test hangs in the balance—India has a slight edge, but England remains dangerous, especially at Headingley, known for dramatic fourth innings comebacks. With the pitch starting to wear and weather likely to play a role, Day 4 could define the outcome of this enthralling Test.
