India vs England Test: 'Tactics were unusual' - Michael Atherton hammers Ben Stokes, rues decision made by England skipper

England ’s approach on Day 4 of the first Test at Headingley has come under sharp criticism from former skipper Michael Atherton , who questioned Ben Stokes ’ defensive tactics against India’s KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. The duo’s commanding 195-run partnership turned the game firmly in India’s favour and left England’s bowlers searching for answers.

Rahul’s measured 137 off 347 deliveries combined with Pant’s counterattacking 118 off just 140 balls piled on the pressure. Despite the conditions and Headingley’s reputation for slip catches, Stokes opted to remove catchers behind the wicket during a crucial phase - a move Atherton found baffling.

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“England's tactics were unusual at the start of the second session as Stokes went quite defensive, and there were no slips in place. The vast majority of wickets at Headingley come in the slips, and there weren't any when Pant edged two. India pressed the accelerator after that and put the hammer down,” Atherton said on Sky Sports.

Rahul’s technical discipline and Pant’s fearless strokeplay enthralled the Headingley crowd and left England’s inexperienced attack exposed. Former India coach Ravi Shastri lauded the pair’s contrasting brilliance but admitted Pant’s relentless charge gave India an unusual problem — when to declare.


“Pant has taken the game forward. He has given India a headache in terms of when should they declare and how many runs do they get. There is plenty of food for thought, but India will be very happy after a technical masterpiece from Rahul and the flamboyance and exuberance that you can't imagine from Pant,” Shastri remarked.

Pant’s smashing innings was ended Shoaib Bashir, who tempted him into a miscue and was caught by Zak Crawley. Rahul followed soon after, bowled off an inside edge while attempting to cut a ball that bounced extra.