ENG vs IND: The events so far in the first match of the five-Test series between India and England at Headingley, Leeds, have brought the match to an interesting turn. By the end of the third day, India have scored 90 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in the second innings, and now the total lead has increased to 96 runs.
Captain Shubman Gill and KL Rahul are at the crease, and this pair will be important to keep India's hopes of victory alive the next day. India had taken a slight lead of 6 runs over India by scoring 465 runs in the first innings, but now both teams have a chance to equalise. The situation suggests that this Test will produce a result in its final two days, and a lot now depends on this third innings.
Headingley, Leeds, has a history of big scores in the third innings of Test matches, especially in the last decade. In 2017, England scored 490/8 here against West Indies, which is the highest third innings score ever. After this, Sri Lanka scored 457 runs against England in 2014. In 2015, New Zealand also declared the innings at 454/8 against England.
It is clear from these figures that if the wickets hold a bit, then a big score is possible in the third innings here as well. England scored 349 against Australia in 2010 and 326 against New Zealand in 2022. Talking about India, their figures in the third innings at Leeds have not been that impressive.
In 1952 and 1959, India could score only 165 and 149 runs. In 1967, a huge innings of 510 runs was played, which is India's highest score in the third innings here till date. In 1986 and 2021, India scored 237 and 278 runs, respectively. According to these figures, batsmen who have stayed in the third innings on this ground have benefited, but some caution has been necessary in the beginning.
Opinion:
Now that India will start the fourth day with a lead of 96 runs, they will have to take this innings forward carefully and wisely. Shubman Gill and Rahul should play by saving wickets in the first session, because the pitch of Leeds usually has a slight movement in the morning. If this pair manages to hold on to a lead of 200, then India will clearly have the upper hand. If India takes a lead of above 275, even by keeping the run rate slow, then the pressure will be on England in the last innings. England's batting may have looked good in the first innings, but India have Jasprit Bumrah in their team. If the pitch remains a little dry, then Jadeja's role will be decisive.
India will have to control time and wickets instead of runs. If India reaches above 250 by losing only one or two wickets in the two sessions of the fourth day, then it may be possible to give England a target of over 300 in the fourth innings. This will be the key to winning this Test.
