England needs 350 runs, and India needs 10 wickets to win on the last day of the Headingley Test. It seems like the mind games have started early. While some teams might think a draw is a good outcome, especially with rain in the mix, Indian batter KL Rahul said after Day 4 that there will definitely be a result, putting the pressure on the English team. He mentioned that their eagerness would give India a chance to bowl them out.
Rahul scored 137, and Rishabh Pant had a great innings with 118, setting a target of 371 for England. The hosts managed to survive until the end of the day, finishing at 21/0. India had let England get within six runs of their first innings total of 471 earlier, but the pitch has deteriorated a bit, which might help the bowlers.
“Tomorrow is going to be a blockbuster finish, Rahul said in the press conference. “There’s going to be a result, that’s what England has said, and it gives us the chance to take those 10 wickets. Today was tough for batting, but it might get even harder tomorrow. We’ll do our best to get those wickets.
India could have done better than 365 in their second innings if not for another collapse, losing their last five wickets for just 31 runs. Rahul admitted they were about 40 runs short of what they should have had. “At tea, we talked about how much we needed, or if we should give them a few overs to bat and maybe get a few wickets. Ideally, we wanted about 40 runs more, he said.
Pant’s century was his second in this Test, making him the first Indian wicketkeeper to score two centuries in a match. Rahul praised his partner, with whom he shared a 195-run partnership. “You just watch him and sometimes wonder about the shots he plays. He has his own style and really enjoys the game. Just let him be Rishabh Pant, Rahul said about him.
The highest successful run chase at Headingley is still 404/3 by Australia in 1948.