• England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett neutralized the threat of Indian pacers with skill and confidence.

  • The duo raced to a century stand inside 25 overs, denying India even a sniff of a breakthrough on Day 5 at Headingley.

Fans brutally troll Shubman Gill’s India as England openers dig in on Day 5 at Headingley
Shubman Gill (Image Source: X)

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The final day began with high hopes for India, defending a formidable 371-run target on a wearing Leeds pitch. But what followed was an utterly dominant display of opening batting from Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, who neutralized the threat of Jasprit Bumrah and co with skill and confidence. The duo raced to a century stand inside 25 overs, scoring at over four an over, and denying India even a sniff of a breakthrough. As England marched past 100 without loss, the pressure visibly mounted on debutant captain Shubman Gill. At Lunch, England needed just 254 more runs with all wickets intact, well on track 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 innovative, brought up a blistering fifty off just 66 balls, threading boundaries behind point and past mid-on with surgical precision. Crawley played the anchor, nudging singles and punishing anything too full. The pair complemented each other perfectly, putting on 100 runs in less than 25 overs without taking undue risks.

Their footwork against Ravindra Jadeja was decisive, never allowing the left-arm spinner to settle. The pace bowlers rotated with little effect, Mohammed Siraj was wayward, Prasidh Krishan expensive and Shardul Thakur largely ineffective. Even Bumrah, India’s best weapon, couldn’t extract life from the pitch. With a slow outfield and quick hands, England’s openers kept the scoreboard ticking and the pressure firmly on the hosts. England’s positive intent and shot selection proved just how much batting-friendly the conditions still were, even on Day 5.

Also READ: ENG vs IND 2025: Here’s why Rishabh Pant has been reprimanded in the Headingley Test

Shubman Gill’s leadership under fire as strategy fails

As England steadily closed in on their target, questions mounted over Gill’s captaincy in his very first Test leading India. Critics and viewers alike pointed out his reactive field placements, allowing singles freely and not applying pressure when England were cruising. Despite India having a sizeable cushion, Gill’s unwillingness to try unconventional fields or bring back Bumrah in short bursts left fans fuming. His handling of Jadeja was also puzzling, used in short spells and without attacking fields. If Gill was trolled for his tactics, the Indian bowlers were hammered for their execution. Bumrah looked tired and under bowled, Siraj was erratic, Krishna leaked boundaries and Shardul was largely ineffective. The consensus was clear, India weren’t just being outplayed, they were being out-thought and out-fought. The bowling lacked venom, and fans were in no mood to spare anyone.

Here’s how fans reacted:

Also READ: In pics: Meet the wives and girlfriends of Indian cricketers – ENG vs IND 2025 Test series

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About the Author:
AMAR PAL SINGH BHALLA
Amar is a sports enthusiast and a talented writer who has found the perfect career that combines his two passions. As a valuable member of Cricket Times, Amar brings his passion for cricket and his talent for writing to the fore, providing readers with insightful and engaging content. Cricket lives rent-free in his mind. A person who views cricket as a metaphor for life. You can connect with Amar at amar.bhalla@crickettimes.com and also follow him on LinkedIn.