Leeds: The Indian cricket team etched its name into the history books during the ongoing Test match against England at Leeds, achieving a rare and unprecedented feat in its 93-year Test history — registering five centuries in a single Test match for the very first time.
This incredible milestone has only been accomplished six times in the history of Test cricket. For India, it marks a golden chapter, with the batters firing on all cylinders in both innings to assert complete dominance over the hosts.
The run-fest began in the first innings with a stellar top-order show. Yashasvi Jaiswal struck a fluent 101 off 159 deliveries, featuring 16 boundaries, while captain Shubman Gill anchored the innings with a masterful 147 off 227 balls, including 19 fours and a six. Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant added fireworks with a blazing 134 off 178 balls, peppered with 12 fours and six towering sixes, taking India to a formidable 471.
England’s reply was equally strong, managing 465 runs, trailing India by just six. Ollie Pope led their fight with a composed 106, and Harry Brook contributed a near-century, falling on 99. Jasprit Bumrah starred with the ball, claiming 5 for 83, while Prasidh Krishna supported ably with 3 for 128.
In their second innings, India maintained their momentum. KL Rahul, who had missed out on a half-century in the first innings, made amends with an unbeaten 120*, anchoring a mammoth 195-run stand alongside Pant, who scripted history again. Scoring 118 off 140 balls, Pant became the first Indian wicketkeeper-batter to notch twin centuries in a single Test match.
India’s total lead swelled past the 300-run mark, ending at 298/4 at tea on Day 4, with Rahul and Karun Nair (4*) at the crease. Earlier in the day, Pant and Rahul launched a counter-assault on the English bowlers, reaching their respective hundreds with flair. Though Pant eventually fell, his contribution laid the foundation for India’s commanding position.
This match also places India in elite company, becoming only the second team to score five centuries in an away Test — the first being Australia in 1955 against the West Indies at Kingston, where all five centuries came in a single innings.
Despite a valiant effort from the English batting unit and consistent spells from Carse and Woakes, they couldn’t prevent India’s top-order juggernaut from taking control.
As the rain-shortened final session looms, India’s dominance is undeniable. With five centurions — Jaiswal, Gill, Pant (twice), and Rahul — and a lead well past 300, Team India has not only bounced back from a tricky position but has also delivered one of the most statistically rare performances in Test history.
From Rishabh Pant’s landmark twin tons to Bumrah’s lethal spells and Rahul’s redemption century, this Test has been a showcase of resilience, talent, and history-making brilliance for India.
