Can India defend 374 in the oval to avoid the defeat of the series? Here’s what history says

India is firmly on the driver’s seat in the thrilling fifth and last test against England Ollie Pope in London Kennington oval. On stumps on day 3 face three lions to a sklicing goal –Still needs 324 runs with nine goals in handAlthough effectively eight since Chris Woakes does not return after shoulder injury.

Yashsvi Jaiswal lit up the match with his sixth test century, supported by a courageous half shooter from Akash Deep, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. Their brilliant efforts helped India to set a huge goal of 374 runs for England. With the remaining two days, the time may not be a pressure point, but the aggressive style of England means that the pendulum could swing in both directions – they could even risk avoiding.

The last balls of the day saw Mohammed Siraj StrikeHe claims that Zak Crawley’s goal to end the day high for India. After a solid 92-run booth in the first shifts, Crawley and Ben Duckett in the second promising 50-running partnership in the second and looked dangerous before Siraj turned the tide.

With everything you can play over the next two days, there is a big question: can India close victory, or will England keep your nerve and chase the goal? The battle is far from over!

Unlikely but not impossible for England

England has a good chance to win an oval test based on past big chases. In 2019, they chased 359 against Australia, 378 against India in 2022 and 371 against India in 2025. These victories show that they can handle pressure in the fourth shift.

Most of these chases became places like Leeds and Birmingham, but the oval could vary. Big chases in England are still rare, so it won’t be easy. But England, with their current form and style of attack, has skill and self -confidence when it is haunted by a high goal if necessary.

The highest successful run-ho-ho-ho-honhases in a test cricket in England

• Australia Beat England (Target 404) – July 22, 1948, Leeds

• England Beat India (Target 378) – 1 July 2022, Birmingham

• Related contentDe Zerbi calls on French media to stand up to Ligue 1 management

  England Beat India (Target 371) – June 20, 2025, Leeds

• England Beat Australia (Target 359) – August 22, 2019, Leeds

• West Indies Beat England (Target 342) – June 28, 1984, Lord’s

• West Indies Beat England (Target 322) – August 25, 2017, Leeds

• Related contentPremier League: Chelsea vs Wolves

  England Beat Australia (Target 315) – August 16, 2001, Leeds

England must break a century old record

In order to win an oval test against India, England must interrupt a 123 -year record. The highest successful persecution in the oval is 263, which was set by England against Australia in 1902. Since then, only a few teams have been chasing more than 200 – Western India with 253 in 1963 and Australia with 242 in 1972.

Recent chases were even lower, such as 219 Sri Lanka in 2024. England was followed by 204 in 1994 and 197 in 2008, both against South Africa. The pursuit of 374 would now be far from everything in the oval that would be possible, and would require extraordinary efforts from English dough.

The highest successful test run-ho-ho-ho-see in oval

• England Beat Australia (Target 263) – August 11, 1902

• West Indies Beat England (Target 253) – August 22, 1963

• Australia Beat England (Target 242) – August 10, 1972

• West Indies Beat England (Target 225) – August 4, 1988

• Sri Lanka Beat England (Target 219) – September 6, 2024

• England beat South Africa (Target 204) – August 18, 1994

• England beat South Africa (Target 197) – August 7, 2008

Three times in the test history

India lost the test match after setting the goal of more than 300 runs on three occasions. The first such loss came against Australia in 1977, when Aussies successfully persecuted 339. Decades later, England achieved this performance twice. In July 2022, England chased 378 in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Recently, in June 2025, England again defeated India by pursuing target 371 In Headingley in Leeds. These three cases emphasize rare but significant moments when the Indian bowling attack failed to prevent the essential goals of the fourth shift in the history of cricket, reflecting the challenge of closing the IS with large leadership.

India examples lose the test while defending 300 and plus targets

• England Beat India (Target 378) – 1 July 2022

• England Beat India (Target 371) – June 20, 2025

• Australia Beat India (Target 339) – 16 December 1977

– ends

Published on:

3rd August 2025

Tune