If cricket had a memory, it would flinch at the sight of England chasing 350+ against India. Especially India.
As we head into the final day of the Leeds Test, the numbers scream in India’s favour. England need 350 runs, have all 10 wickets in hand, and 90 overs to get there. On paper, that’s a mountain. Chasing 350+ in the fourth innings of a Test match is a feat rarely achieved in the sport’s long, winding history — the batting side almost never gets there.
For India, the record is imposing: they’ve defended 350+ targets 59 times, winning 43 and drawing 16. They’ve only failed once. And the team that beat them? England, of course. Birmingham, 2022.
That match, now stitched into India’s modern Test legacy, saw the visitors post 416, take a 132-run lead, and set England a mammoth 378-run target. Most thought the series — and India’s long-awaited triumph on English soil — was in the bag. But Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow produced an unforgettable 269-run unbeaten stand, flipping the match on its head. England chased it down with seven wickets to spare.
So maybe that’s why India never declared on Day 4 in Leeds. They batted deep, stretched the lead, and let the clock run. They were aware of what England are capable of — and how momentum in English conditions can be a slippery, unstoppable force.
Now, it’s all set up. Shubman Gill’s India have the upper hand, but England have the playbook. The pitch still has life, the pressure will fluctuate, and so will belief. One early wicket could crack the chase open. One partnership could shut the game down.
It’s a match where stats favour India, but history keeps England alive. Expect a day full of tension, twists, and maybe even trauma. Leeds is ready. Are India?
Also read: King of the Keepers: Rishabh Pant’s love affair with England continues
