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Arpit Sachdeva

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KL Rahul

India vs England: Three Talking points from Day 4 of the first Test

KL Rahul (Image Credits: X)

An action-packed day four of the first Test ensued in Headingley as India and England traded blows in a tightly contested contest. The visitors will believe that they have performed the better of the two sides at the close of play, as they piled on the runs once again to set up an intimidating target. KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant scored centuries for India, while Karun Nair got some runs under his belt. The game is now nicely poised with England needing 350 runs on the final day. With some rain on the horizon as well for tomorrow, things are looking very exciting in Leeds as both teams will try to play for a result. 

IND vs ENG: Talking points from Day 4 of the first Test

1. Prolific Pant

Rishabh Pant became the first Indian wicketkeeper to score a century in both innings of a Test match, as he piled on 118 runs to support his first innings performance of 134. The talisman left-hander did so in classic Rishabh Pant - counter-attacking in the beginning and then showing dogged defense to frustrate the English bowlers. 

India were a bit nervous today morning after losing Shubman Gill early, but Pant came out attacking to put the pressure back on the English bowlers. He was a bit streaky to begin his innings but came into his own as the innings progressed. 

Rishabh Pant scored 15 boundaries and three sixes in his knock, particularly taking a liking to Shoaib Bashir whom he was belting for fun. He took his time as the innings progressed, showing great maturity and attrition to his innings this time around. With todayโ€™s knock, Rishabh Pant has gone level with Sachin Tendulkar for Test hundreds in England. 

2. Attritional KL Rahul

KL Rahul is the most experienced batter now in this Indian team, and he made that experience count with a superb century in England. The Indian opener has a solid technique playing the swinging ball, and he showed his prowess once again in a faultless knock at Leeds, notching up his third century in England. 

Rahul showed great attrition today in his knock, starting slowly and making the English bowlers really work for it. He was solid in defence, had a clear blueprint for his game, and seldom chased after anything wide. While being solid in defense, Rahul was also positive and looked to score when looseners were dished out. The stylish Indian batter scored 18 boundaries in his innings of 137. He was fortunate to be dropped once by Harry Brook fairly early in his innings but made the most of that opportunity. 

3. Game is finely balanced

Despite big hundreds from Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul, India had a familiar problem plaguing them as their lower order didnโ€™t contribute much, leading to a collapse. The final six wickets fell for just 31 runs, as England found a foothold back into the contest. Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley did well to play out a tricky phase of play towards the close, setting up things perfectly for day five. 

With some intermittent showers and gloomy conditions predicted in Leeds for the bulk of tomorrow, things are finely balanced. The bowlers will have plenty of help with the conditions, but the wicket is still holding up nicely for stroke-making to be smooth. There hasnโ€™t been too much variable bounce or prodigious turn so far in the game, meaning that England are still very much in the contest. With their attacking brand of cricket, they will surely play for the result, while the Indian bowlers will believe they have enough time to pick 10 wickets. All eyes are on Day five now. 

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