The ultimate day started with excessive hopes for India, defending a formidable 371-run goal on a sporting Leeds pitch. However what adopted was an totally dominant show of opening batting from Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, who neutralized the specter of Jasprit Bumrah and co with talent and confidence. The duo raced to a century stand inside 25 overs, scoring at over 4 an over, and denying India even a sniff of a breakthrough. As England marched previous 100 with out loss, the stress visibly mounted on debutant captain Shubman Gill. At Lunch, England wanted simply 254 extra runs with all wickets intact, effectively on monitor for a historic chase.
Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett masterclass leaves India clueless
Duckett and Crawley orchestrated a batting clinic, treating the morning session like a limited-overs run chase. Duckett, aggressive and progressive, introduced up a blistering fifty off simply 66 balls, threading boundaries behind level and previous mid-on with surgical precision. Crawley performed the anchor, nudging singles and punishing something too full. The pair complemented one another completely, placing on 100 runs in lower than 25 overs with out taking undue dangers.
Their footwork towards Ravindra Jadeja was decisive, by no means permitting the left-arm spinner to settle. The tempo bowlers rotated with little impact, Mohammed Siraj was wayward, Prasidh Krishan costly and Shardul Thakur largely ineffective. Even Bumrah, India’s finest weapon, couldn’t extract life from the pitch. With a sluggish outfield and fast palms, England’s openers saved the scoreboard ticking and the stress firmly on the hosts. England’s constructive intent and shot choice proved simply how a lot batting-friendly the circumstances nonetheless have been, even on Day 5.
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Shubman Gill’s management below hearth as technique fails
As England steadily closed in on their goal, questions mounted over Gill’s captaincy in his very first Take a look at main India. Critics and viewers alike identified his reactive subject placements, permitting singles freely and never making use of stress when England have been cruising. Regardless of India having a sizeable cushion, Gill’s unwillingness to strive unconventional fields or carry again Bumrah in brief bursts left followers fuming. His dealing with of Jadeja was additionally puzzling, utilized in quick spells and with out attacking fields. If Gill was trolled for his ways, the Indian bowlers have been hammered for his or her execution. Bumrah appeared drained and below bowled, Siraj was erratic, Krishna leaked boundaries and Shardul was largely ineffective. The consensus was clear, India weren’t simply being outplayed, they have been being out-thought and out-fought. The bowling lacked venom, and followers have been in no temper to spare anybody.
Right here’s how followers reacted:
Very very poor captaincy from Shubman Gill similar to 1st inning, he allowed opposition to attain 460+ in 1st inning when circumstances have been overcast.
And now when England is chasing huge 371, nonetheless Gill is taking part in with cery defensive subject. Virat could be hating all this at dwelling.
— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) June 24, 2025
Session is coming near the tip Crawley and Duckett are nonetheless there and smashing Indian bowlers. Neither the change in bowling, subject placements nor shouting from the fielders has labored for India.
— Sports activities syncs (@moiz_sports) June 24, 2025
What’s irritating is that I don’t really feel assured watching this bowling assault. Earlier, even when the state of affairs appeared dangerous, I’d nonetheless suppose India had a shot. However not with this present setup. Baki jaisa Gill bol rha “Ek aspect Mohammad dusre aspect Krishna” wahi bachaye inhe ab 🙂↕️
— Jahazi (@Oye_Jahazi) June 24, 2025
Simply started watching the cricket
Horrible bowling by India, incorrect strains and lengths, not even bowling to the sector 😲
— Apurv Nagpal (@apurvnagpal) June 24, 2025
This recreation at Headingly is slipping away.. higher bowling by india assist bowlers than the primary dig, however even higher batting by England.. Thisnis one floor the place the runs per wicket grows from the primary to the fourth innings!!
— PRAKASH WAKANKAR (@pakwakankar) June 24, 2025
Bumrah gonna choke once more at present.
— . (@chixxreturns) June 24, 2025
Why is not Jadeja bowling? Why is Thakur bowling? Prasidh Krishna manages to go at 5.75 runs an over on a Fifth-day pitch. Completely brainless captaincy.
— कुशल मेहरा (@kushal_mehra) June 24, 2025
Shardul and Prasidh bowling just like the sixth and seventh bowlers who’ve to finish 4 overs in a T20 as a result of one of many frontline bowlers broke down.
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) June 24, 2025
Why are mediocre gamers like Prasidh Krishna even chosen for the take a look at group when now we have bowlers like Arshdeep Singh within the pipeline? #INDvsENG
— Animesh Singh (@animeshingh_) June 24, 2025
Ball at one place problem, feat. Prasidh Krishna.
— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) June 24, 2025
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