Not all fresh starts create fairy tales and for the first trip of Shaubman Gill as an Indian test captain, this truth descended hard under the gray sky Leeds. Despite centuries of four different doughs and two separate promises, India has given up on several occasions on several occasions, eventually to England in the first test of the series of five matches to England. It was a game that had moments in India, but also glaring shortcomings that cost them expensive.
There were signs of transition in the Indian test cricket (no Rohit Sharma, no virat kohli) and Gill at the helm of the young side who longs for their brand. Nevertheless, in a match that should be heavily leaning in Indian benefit after the first score of 471, the team crashed through repeated collapse, dropped catches and lack of balls in the last shifts. When England was chased by Mammoth 371 in the fourth shift, India asked: Where did it all go wrong?
Here are five key reasons why the match slipped out of their grip.
Twin Batting Collapses despite strong starts
India was on both occasions on both occasions with a bat. In the first shifts it was 430/3 at one stage with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant and SHUBMAN GILL, who did a heavy lifting. From there, however, the collapse saw how he would lose the last seven goals for only 41 runs. What looked like a potential total of 600 ended at 471.
In the second shift, the story was not much different. Once again, Rishabh Pant and Kl Rahul let the visitors fly high in 333/5, but the middle and lower order could not consolidate the advantage. India collapsed again and added only 77 more runs to end up to 364. Sai Sudharsan, debut, and Karun Nair, who returned after a long hiatus, failed to count their opportunities. The imbalance between the upper and middle orders proved to be expensive.
Poked accidents in critical intersections
The Indian field was a subpark over both shifts and no one had a harder trip than Yashasvi Jaiswal. The young opener dropped four catches in the match, including decisive, when Ben Duckett was 97. Duckett continued to score 149 defining the match and Indian arms visibly dropped with every missed opportunity.
But it wasn’t just Jaiswal. Slops dropped chances, outfielders missed the ball and Rishabh Pant’s goal also looked for smoke at key moments. In a close test match on the fifth day, where moments often change the difference, India gave England too many life lines.
MISFIRED Bowling combination
With the ball, the Indian selected unit (Bumrah, Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Prasidh Krishna and Jadeja) tried to save when it matters most. The balance was turned off. While Bumrah scored five goal in the first shifts, in the second he went without a goal. Nor could Siraj could influence.
Excluding the possibility of extra tempo, such as Arshdeep Singh or attacking wrist, let the attack feel the apartment. The incorporation of SharDula for its launching brought some advantages in the second inning, but his bowling lacked the poison, which has now brought a big question mark to integrate it. Prasidh looked rusty and Jadeja, although he picked up Stokes, lacked bite to control or consistently threaten.
Excessive Reliance on Jasprit Bumhrah
For a moment it seemed that Jasprit Bumrah would do it all by himself. His 5/83 in the first shifts was the Bumrah year: Reverse Swing, Hostile Tempo and Clinical Accuracy. But in the second shifts, when India desperately needed breakthroughs, nor could he penetrate the decisive English Supreme Order.
Once Bumrah was with ease (especially Duckett and Zak Crawley), Indian bowling began to crumble. It exposed how addicted this attack is on their talisman. When Bumrah clicks, India is in the game. If not, things will break too quickly.
England just played better, smarter cricket
While India had her moments, England has never lost faith. Their approach was calm, calculated and fearless. They weren’t rashes, but they weren’t too careful. Duckett 149 and Crawley’s knocking 65 after failure in the first shifts laid a foundation.
In the first shifts, they agreed with the Indian 471 with 465 own, thanks to a hundred from Ollie Pope and one almost from Harry Brook. On day 5, the persecution of 371, England burned with a remarkable discipline for the morning session, absorbed pressure, and then raised the pace if necessary. Their understanding of when to attack and when consolidated to consolidate itself as good for the Indian attack.
Indian breaking headingley was not a disaster, it was a missed opportunity. The young team of Shaubman Gill showed a promise, especially with a bat at the top of the order, but also showed areas that require immediate attention. Whether it is the connection of the middle order gaps, tightening of field standards or decreased dependence on a single pitch, this loss can serve as a plan for growth.
Gill sincerely talked about the shortcomings of the team after the game and reaffirmed faith in this young party. The way to redemption is now going through Birmingham and India hopes that the second test will see more complete and complicated performance.
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Published:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
June 25, 2025
