England pulled off a sensational 5-wicket victory over India in the first Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Headingley, Leeds, on June 24, 2025, successfully chasing a daunting 371-run target to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Ben Duckett’s dazzling 149 laid the foundation for the second-highest successful chase in Headingley’s Test history, with Joe Root, Ben Stokes, and Jamie Smith steering England to a memorable triumph.
The final day began with England at 21/0, needing 350 more runs to win. Duckett, alongside Zak Crawley (65), set the tone with a 188-run opening stand, breaking the back of the chase. Despite a brief wobble after Duckett’s dismissal at 253/3, Root’s composed 53* and Smith’s unbeaten 44, capped with a match-winning six off Ravindra Jadeja, ensured England crossed the finish line in 82 overs. The clinical performance by England, marked England’s sixth consecutive Test win at Leeds while bowling first.
England Defeated India Comfortabaly
India’s hopes of defending the target were dashed by their own shortcomings. Despite amassing 835 runs across two innings, including centuries from Shubman Gill (147), Rishabh Pant (134 and 118), Yashasvi Jaiswal (101), and KL Rahul (137), their lower order faltered dramatically. In the second innings, India collapsed from 333/4 to 364 all out, losing their last six wickets for just 31 runs. This collapse, coupled with six dropped catches throughout the match, proved costly.
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra criticized the team’s performance, particularly targeting captain Shubman Gill’s tactical decisions. Chopra highlighted Gill’s over-reliance on Jasprit Bumrah, who bowled a probing spell but lacked support from Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. India’s choice of all-rounder Shardul Thakur also drew scrutiny, with Thakur failing to deliver with bat or ball.
Indian Coach Gambhir’s Statement
India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir attributed the defeat to the team’s inexperience, noting the absence of stalwarts like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who retired from Test cricket last month. “We had our moments on top, but England are so good, and we needed to kill the game when we had the chance,” Gill said on BBC Test Match Special, acknowledging the team’s youth and fielding lapses.
England’s Bazball Approach
England’s victory was a testament to their aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. Stokes, vindicating his decision to bowl first despite India’s 430/3 on Day 1, praised his team’s attitude: “This win is not just down to skill, but the attitude of this dressing room.” Duckett, named Player of the Match, called the chase “incredible,” crediting the calm presence of Root and the team’s resilience despite rain interruptions.
India, now with a record of three wins and seven losses under Gambhir’s coaching since July 2024, face pressure to regroup before the second Test at Edgbaston from July 2–6. With Bumrah’s availability for only two more Tests in the series, Gill’s young side must address their fielding and bowling inconsistencies to challenge a buoyant England team.
The match, described as an “all-time Headingley classic” by BBC Sport, sets the stage for an enthralling series, with the potential return of England’s Jofra Archer adding further intrigue.