“Draw” Not in England’s Vocabulary as Final-Day Chase Beckons Against India

Josh Tongue insists the word “draw” hasn’t been mentioned in the England dressing room at Headingley as the hosts prepare for a final-day run chase of 371 against India. Under Ben Stokes, England have drawn only one of their 36 Tests — and that was due to rain — making victory the only goal as they seek 350 more runs in 90 overs for a remarkable win. Tongue confirmed that England will stick to their aggressive mantra despite the challenging target. “We’ll just go for the win. That’s the clear message in the changing room,” he said. “It’s about being as positive as we can… I don’t see why we can’t chase that down.”

KL Rahul, who top-scored with 137 in India’s second innings, welcomed England’s approach, suggesting their attacking mindset plays into the visitors’ hands. “There’s definitely going to be a result,” he said. “Their style gives us a good opportunity to pick up ten wickets. The wicket’s taken a beating, and we’ll be looking for lines and lengths to take advantage.” Rahul admitted India fell short of their ideal target after being bowled out for 364, adding, “We would’ve wanted 40–50 more runs.” Meanwhile, Tongue expressed belief in England’s deep batting line-up and stated that getting through the first 30–45 minutes of the final morning will be crucial. The scene is set for an enthralling finish as both teams openly pursue victory.

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