Rishabh Pant's record-breaking second century of the game and KL Rahul's ninth Test ton set up a 371-run target for England on the penultimate day of the first Test in Headingley, Leeds. Their spectacular partnership kept England at bay for the majority of two sessions on Day 4 as, despite losing skipper Shubman Gill early, the Rahul-Pant duo didn't allow themselves to be put under pressure by stitching a 195-run partnership for the fourth wicket. With India not looking in a mood to rush or declare, the English pace attack took matters in their own hands and clawed their way back with quick wickets in the final session. By Stumps, the hosts had knocked off 21 from that target, leaving themselves with a difficult but probable 350 more to get - all wickets intact - though with rain forecast to cause interruptions on the final morning.
KL Rahul, Pant register centuries to set England target of 371
England, and Brydon Carse, drew first blood once Shoaib Bashir bowled that one remaining delivery from his overnight over. The ball came back in from a good length after pitching and took Gill's inside-edge before clattering into the stumps. While a wicket or two more there could have piled on some pressure on India, Pant came down the track off just his second delivery to smash one past Chris Woakes. At the other end, Rahul raised his first half-century of the series.
While Woakes did cause some discomfort for Rahul, Pant remained in counterattacking mode as he stepped down the track again to thump him for another boundary. England even burnt a review in their desperation to see the back of Pant whereas Rahul at the other end was more than happy to bide his time. He found himself in trouble when he attempted to guide one delivery towards third man for the second successive time but hit it straight to Harry Brook who couldn't pluck an overhead catch, offering the opener a reprieve on 58.
Rahul continued to weather the storm against pace before finally punching Ben Stokes through the covers to move into the 70s. Bashir was brought in before Lunch for a mini burst but Pant kept him out to make sure India didn't let go of their slight edge. That said, it was the least productive session of the Test in terms of runs (63) scored.
If the opening session was all about being watchful, especially after an early setback, the second session saw runs flow freely again. Josh Tongue came into the firing line early in the session against Pant whereas Rahul moved into the 80s with a sweep shot against Bashir. After going past 50, Pant then took charge against spinner, smashing him for two sixes in an over to clearly signal his intentions.
Batting on 45 off 81 at one point, Pant managed to add 27 off the next 11 balls he faced, flicking the switch that put England on the backfoot. At the other end, the calm and composed Rahul continued to milk the bowling attack to bring up a wonderful hundred. Pant quickly moved into the nineties but then, uncharacteristically, took his time to convert it into a historic hundred. In no rush to get to the landmark, the left-hander took 22 balls to go from 95 to 100, thus becoming only the second wicketkeeper in history to
