India are in the driver's seat in the 1st Test at Headingley, but the job is far from done. At lunch on Day 4, they led by 159 runs with KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant still out in the middle. The match is very much in the balance, and the big question now is- how much is enough for India to feel safe?
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has given his answer. According to him, India should be looking to set a total of 320 runs or more to feel confident.
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What has Michael Vaughan said about India’s target?
Michael Vaughan took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to weigh in on the game. In his post, he wrote:
"Pitch is still looking very good... A few patches developing for the spinners but still plenty of runs on offer. You feel India will need at least 320+."
He clearly feels that while batting isn’t impossible just yet, the surface could start turning tricky, especially for England’s fourth-innings chase.
Pitch is still looking very good .. A few patches developing for the spinners but still plenty of runs on offer .. You feel India will need at least 320 + .. #ENGvIND
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 23, 2025
Headingley has seen some wild chases in recent years. England chased 296 here in 2019 against Australia and repeated similar efforts in 2022 and 2023.
And with this current England team under Ben Stokes, chasing 300-plus doesn’t scare them. That means India must bat deep and set a target that puts real pressure on the hosts.
Even though the pitch is wearing out, England’s attacking style can flip a game fast. A total below 300 might not be enough.