Leeds, June 25, 2025 — England captain Ben Stokes has hailed the importance of a calm and relaxed dressing room culture after his side pulled off one of their most remarkable Test match chases in history, defeating India by five wickets in the first Test at Headingley.
England chased down a daunting target of 371 runs in the fourth innings, the highest ever at the historic Leeds venue and the third-highest successful chase in their Test history.
Speaking to reporters after the dramatic victory, Stokes said the key to such a performance lay not just in skill and preparation, but in cultivating a “chilled-out” mindset within the squad.
“One of the most important things we’ve done as a team is make the dressing room as chilled out as possible,” said Stokes.
“There’s enough pressure already when you’re playing in front of tens of thousands and the world is watching. So our aim is to remove that pressure internally and allow players to be their best.”
The match was finely poised heading into the final two days, with India setting England a mammoth total thanks to a century from Rohit Sharma and solid support from Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja.
But a commanding partnership between Joe Root (142 not out) and Harry Brook (94) anchored England’s chase and left the Indian bowlers visibly deflated.
“We never talked about the total, we just broke it down session by session,” said Root. “There’s a great sense of belief in this side now. Everyone’s backing each other and enjoying their cricket.”
Stokes, who contributed 53 in a crucial middle-order stand, has led England through a renaissance since taking over the captaincy, embracing an aggressive and positive brand of cricket often dubbed “Bazball” after coach Brendon McCullum.
Under his leadership, England have chased down fourth-innings targets with increasing confidence, and Headingley added another chapter to the growing legacy of this approach.
“It’s not about reckless cricket, it’s about positive intent and freedom,” Stokes explained. “We want to put pressure back on the opposition, not just wait for things to happen.”
India captain Rohit Sharma admitted his side was stunned by England’s approach and rued missed opportunities. “We had them three down and just couldn’t capitalise,” he said. “Credit to Root and Brook, they played outstandingly. We’ll go back, regroup, and come back stronger.”
With the second Test set to begin in Nottingham next week, the pressure is now on India to bounce back, while England will look to ride the momentum of their historic chase.
The win gives England a 1-0 lead in the five-match series and further cements the belief that under Stokes and McCullum, no target is out of reach.
“It’s not just about winning,” Stokes concluded, “It’s about how we go about it—and right now, the boys are loving every minute.”
