IND vs ENG Live: India eye big lead as Rahul, Gill gear up for Day 4 charge

Rain forced an early stumps on Day 3, and forecasts suggest more interruptions could affect the match flow on Days 4 and 5. For India, time is precious as they want enough overs to build a lead and bowl England out again.

Weather breaks can disrupt momentum, frustrate bowlers and make batting easier when the ball softens. Both teams know that squeezing the most out of clear windows is vital.

If rain shortens Day 4, expect Gill to push for quick runs once Rahul is settled. England, meanwhile, will want to bowl tightly and exploit any moisture when play resumes.

The Leeds skies are always unpredictable, adding another twist to an already tense contest.

After conceding a small first-innings lead, England’s path to victory runs through India’s batting fortress. Stokes’ tactics on Day 4 will focus on the early wickets of Rahul, Gill, and Pant are the big prizes.

Carse’s bounce and Woakes’ swing are vital weapons, but England need consistency. Stokes himself has chipped in crucial breakthroughs and might once again lead by example.

If they break India’s backbone by lunch, England can aim to chase a manageable target on a decent pitch. However, any big partnership could see the match slip away.

For the hosts, sharper fielding and a tight line outside off stump are non-negotiable. One big session could bring them right back as Headingley is known for miracle chases, and England will believe till the end.

Dropped catches can decide Tests in England. India have already tested this theory the hard way at Headingley — with four missed chances off Bumrah alone, England piled up runs they shouldn’t have had.

Those lapses have kept the hosts alive in a match they could have lost control of early. Now, with the batters doing the rescue work, India’s fielders must prepare for another stern examination when they eventually bowl again.

Expect England to fight back with the bat if given a sniff. Players like Brook, Pope and Stokes thrive on second chances. If India let slip more sitters, even a big target may feel unsafe.

Gill and Rahul must remind their slip cordon, close-in catchers and wicketkeeper to stay sharp. Bumrah, Siraj and Jadeja can’t carry the burden alone. Clean fielding could yet swing the final session in India’s favour.

Shubman Gill’s first Test as India captain has already been memorable with a fluent century in the first innings, a composed presence on the field, and bold bowling changes despite inexperience. Now, the young leader must deliver a final act: guiding India to a series lead.

With Bumrah’s five-for wiping out England’s threat of a big first-innings lead, Gill’s focus shifts back to the bat. On Day 4, he must settle in alongside Rahul and rebuild after Sudharsan’s untimely exit. The target is clear: get India to a total England can’t chase in tricky Headingley conditions.

Gill’s calm style mirrors Kohli’s intensity in crucial moments. He’s shown a willingness to back his bowlers and adjust fields on the go. But if India’s batters don’t put up enough runs, even a record-breaking Bumrah can’t save the day again.

This match has turned into a test not just of Gill’s batting skill but of his tactical nous under pressure. The next two days will tell us a lot about India’s next-generation leadership and whether Gill is ready to step out of the shadows of Kohli and Rohit for good.

India’s top order has a big job, but don’t forget the engine room lower down, as it might prove decisive yet again. With Rahul and Gill steady at stumps, the plan on Day 4 will be to first weather England’s fresh morning burst, then unleash counter-attacking depth.

India’s batting depth has rescued them countless times. Rishabh Pant, Jadeja and Shardul Thakur have the ability to frustrate tiring bowlers and tack on crucial runs quickly. Pant’s flamboyant strokeplay, especially, can flip sessions and force England to spread the field.

England know this all too well. Having missed multiple catching chances off Bumrah, they’ll want to tighten their fielding and catch every edge that comes their way on Day 4. But with the pitch playing true and not showing demons yet, India’s lower order will fancy pushing the lead to a safe zone above 300.

The script is set: a calm start, a mid-innings counterattack and a final burst from the tail. If this unfolds to plan, Bumrah might just have enough to seal another famous overseas win. Leeds fans, stay glued and this could go the distance!

Heading into Day 4 of this riveting first Test, the equation is simple yet tantalising: India need runs, England need wickets and fast. With a mere 96-run lead, India’s overnight pair, KL Rahul and Shubman Gill, hold the keys to what could be a defining partnership in this match.

Rahul’s form and patience were evident as he left balls smartly and punished anything loose on Day 3. Gill, who marked his captaincy debut with a first-innings century, now has the chance to show he can anchor India’s innings when it matters most.

England’s bowling has lacked the old magic of Anderson and Broad, but Stokes and Carse have used the slope and bounce to good effect. If they nip out Rahul or Gill early, India’s middle order will be under pressure against a ball still doing a bit off the surface.

For India, the strategy is clear: occupy the crease, frustrate England, and stretch the lead past 250. If they succeed, Bumrah and Co. will have a fighting total to work with in the fourth innings. Leeds is bracing for a classic Day 4 scrap, one side’s resolve will crack, but which one?

Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliance once again saved India from falling behind in the opening Test, but the match remains delicately poised. His five-wicket masterclass equalled Kapil Dev’s record for most away fifers by an Indian, a milestone that highlights Bumrah’s immense value, especially when the rest of the attack struggled.

With the ball now parked safely away, India’s middle order must rise to the occasion. After losing Yashasvi Jaiswal early and debutant B Sai Sudharsan cheaply for the second time, the experienced heads — KL Rahul and Shubman Gill are carrying the hopes of pushing the lead beyond England’s reach.

England, meanwhile, will look to exploit any lapse in India’s batting. Their pacers, buoyed by occasional cloud cover, have found bounce and seam movement at Headingley. Ben Stokes’ smart captaincy and relentless field placements are sure to test India’s composure.

India’s depth in batting is a luxury with Pant, Jadeja and Shardul can all swing momentum later. But the foundation must be laid in the first two sessions on Day 4. A solid stand from Rahul and Gill can transform India’s modest advantage into match-winning dominance. The question is: can they weather England’s fightback yet again?

After Jasprit Bumrah’s stunning five-wicket haul levelled the playing field, India’s hopes now rest on their batting mainstays KL Rahul and Shubman Gill to tilt this Test in their favour. With a slender lead of 96 at stumps on Day 3, the visitors know the first session on Day 4 could shape the final outcome. Rahul, looking calm and precise on 47 not out, has shown remarkable patience against the moving ball. At the other end, Gill, though quiet so far, has the game to counterattack if needed.

England will sniff an early breakthrough if they can dislodge Rahul quickly, exposing India’s middle order to fresh seam and swing under Leeds’ cloudy skies. However, India’s plan will be to bat long and deep, pushing the lead past 250 to give their bowlers enough to defend on a pitch that’s offering just enough to the pacers.

All eyes will be on how India’s new leadership group handles this pressure moment. With Bumrah’s spell having covered for lacklustre support bowling and sloppy catching, the batters owe him a cushion this time. Day 4 promises high drama and could well decide who leaves Leeds with a series lead.