The first Test of the five-match series between England and India concluded in Leeds on June 24, 2025. It saw England chase down the 371-run target with ease and win the match by 5 wickets to go 1-0 up.
India had been asked to bat first and put up 471 runs on the board in the first innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal (101), Shubman Gill (147), and Rishabh Pant (134) were the main contributors, while KL Rahul made 47. Concerningly, the last six wickets of the Indian XI contribute only 15 odd runs.
Josh Tongue and Ben Stokes picked 4 wickets each for England.
In response, Ollie Pope made 106 and Harry Brook made 99, while Ben Duckett made 62. In contrast, the England tailenders contributed well as they posted 465 in their first innings. Indian bowling looked toothless apart from Jasprit Bumrah, who took 5/83.
With a lead of 6 runs, India posted 364 runs, with KL Rahul scoring 137 and Rishabh Pant smacking his second hundred of the match, scoring 118. The Indian tail failed again as England was asked to chase 371 runs. Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue took 3 wickets for England.
Zak Crawley (65) and Ben Duckett gave England the perfect start, adding 188 runs for the first wicket. Duckett made 149 runs with 21 fours and 1 six, while Joe Root made 53*. In the end, 33 by Ben Stokes and 44* by Jamie Smith took England home by 5 wickets as they made 373/5.
Ben Duckett was named the Player of the Match for his 62 and 149 in England's Test win in Leeds.
Indian bowling looked extremely ineffective as even Bumrah went wicketless. Only Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur managed to inflict some damage with 2 wickets each, while Jadeja took one scalp.
India became the first team in the 148-year history of Test cricket to lose a game despite five batters scoring centuries. This win also meant that England went 1-0 up on the five-Test series. The second Test is set to begin on July 2 in Birmingham.
The cricket fraternity was praiseful of Ben Duckett and England batters and lauded the hosts for a convincing win.
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