England were comfortably placed at 225 for two at stumps after bowling out India for 358 on the second day of the fourth Test in Manchester on Thursday.
Daryl Mitchell's runs had steered the hosts to their victories in Tauranga and Hamilton and when he departed for 44 to leave his team still 27 runs from their target on 196-8, the English scented an unlikely victory.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction saw some foreign names earning big bucks, headlined by Aussie all-rounder Cameron Green
Reddy, brought into the attack just after the first hour of play in the 14th over, struck twice in his very first over by removing both England openers.
Since going missing from red-ball action in 2021, the 30-year-old endured a period during which injuries constantly plagued him, especially a recurring stress fracture in his right elbow.
India are favourites to secure victory and draw the series, but England will still fancy their chances of completing what would be by far the highest successful Test run chase at The Oval.
'I'm worried. We're going to wander in and have a little game with the 'A' team. (It will be) 'Alright mate, how are you? Good on ya' and we're going to go and perform?'
Yashasvi Jaiswal enhanced his reputation as an all-conditions opener with a gutsy hundred on a tough pitch before Washington Sundar's whirlwind fifty allowed India to set a record 374-run target for England on an absorbing Day 3 of the final Test at The Oval on Saturday.
All-rounder Jamie Overton, who played the only Test match of his career back in 2022, has been recalled to the 15-member England squad
England on Wednesday announced their playing XI for the opening Test of the five-match series against India, which will kickstart at Headingley on Friday.
Images from Day 2 of the fifth Test between England and India at The Oval, London, on Friday.
Vaughan slams Crawley for failing to pounce on opportunities
England have not won an Ashes Test match in Australia for nearly 15 years but their batting firepower could prove decisive in the series starting in Perth next month, according to former captain Alastair Cook.
It was a dramatic end to day three of the third Test with opener Zak Crawley using the delaying tactic to ensure England only played one over
India's batters Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar refused England skipper Ben Stokes' offer to call off the fourth Test and settle for a draw before the start of the final hour of play.
Shubman Gill scored a record-breaking 269 and their seamers struck early to put the tourists in a commanding position at Edgbaston on Thursday.
Shubman Gill's aggressive behaviour during the Lord's Test came as a surprise to many, including former Australia captain Ricky Ponting.
IMAGES from Day 1 of the third Test match between England and India at Lord's, London, on Thursday.
Gill clashed with England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, accusing them of deliberately wasting time.
Prasidh Krishna opened up about the bond shared within India's pace unit
Spin great Anil Kumble praised Nitish Kumar Reddy's showing with the ball on Day 1 of the Lord's Test on Thursday.
'We thought they deserved a century there (about the decision to not shake hands). Every match going till the last session on the last day.'
Boycott slams ECB over underperforming Woakes, Crawley
England go unchanged at Edgbaston
Siraj took a six wicket haul in the first innings and got rid of Zak Crawley in the final hour on day five.
NZ hand young talent contracts as big guns remain casual
Gill said staying calm under pressure would be crucial going forward in the five-match series.
Shubman Gill had fired a verbal salvo at Zak Crawley during the Lord's Test after he and his opening partner Ben Duckett arrived 90 seconds late to the crease.
Uncapped left-arm seamer Ben Lister is likely to make his debut in the 2nd Test
Archer, who has taken 42 wickets in 13 Tests, made his first appearance in a first-class match in four years on Sunday in the County Championship with Sussex.
Stokes admitted that the aggression from the Indian players added some adrenalin into his side.
Nitish Kumar Reddy made a promise to himself post the Australia tour that he would improve his bowling.
Opener Ben Duckett hit the most defining century of his career, exposing an out-of-depth Indian attack as England comfortably chased down a tricky target of 371 to win the opening Test by five wickets.
Reddy took Thakur's place in Birmingham after the first Test
Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope scored centuries to take England to a massive 498/3 at the close on the first day of their one-off Test against Zimbabwe.
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg believes that the aggressive tone of the ongoing Test series between India and England will be a huge selling point for the match-day tickets of the upcoming Ashes.
Shubman Gill's early days as India's Test captain have stirred intense debate -- not just for his on-field decisions, but for a noticeable shift in persona.
England replace Shoaib Bashir with Liam Dawson in playing XI for 4th Test against India
Michael Vaughan wasted no time reigniting his playful rivalry with Wasim Jaffer - a duo known for their sharp-witted exchanges on X.
Joe Root's patient unbeaten 99 led England to 251-4 on an attritional and compelling first day of the third Test against India at Lord's on Thursday.
