Not every fresh start feels like a fairytale, and that was clear for Shubman Gill in his debut as India’s Test captain at Leeds. Despite some strong batting efforts, four players hitting centuries and two promising innings, India couldn’t hold onto their advantage and lost to England by five wickets in the first match of the series. There were moments to cheer, but also some big mistakes that cost India dearly.
This match clearly showed India’s transition phase in Test cricket, no Rohit Sharma, no Virat Kohli and Gill leading a young team hungry to prove themselves. After putting up a solid 471 in the first innings, India seemed in control, but repeated batting collapses, dropped catches, and weak bowling in the final innings let England come back. Chasing 371 on the last day, England pulled off a win, leaving India wondering what went wrong.
India’s batting looked strong early on both innings. In the first innings, they were 430 for 3 at one point, thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Gill. But then the tail collapsed quickly, losing seven wickets for just 41 runs, finishing at 471 instead of a possible 600. The second innings was similar. Pant and KL Rahul kept the score high at 333 for 5, but the middle and lower order faltered again, adding just 77 more runs to end on 364. Debutant Sai Sudharsan and returning Karun Nair couldn’t seize their chances, and that gap between the top and middle order hurt India badly.
Fielding was another weak spot especially for young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who dropped four catches, including a crucial one off Ben Duckett when he was on 97. Duckett went on to score 149, a match-winning knock, and you could see India’s frustration grow with every missed chance. It wasn’t just Jaiswal. Slips dropped catches, outfielders misjudged balls, and even wicketkeeper Pant looked off his game at times. In a close Test on a tricky fifth-day pitch, those missed opportunities made a huge difference.
On the bowling front, India’s attack struggled when it counted most. While Jasprit Bumrah shone with a five-wicket haul in the first innings, he couldn’t break through in the second. Mohammed Siraj also failed to make a big impact. India’s bowling balance was off. They missed having an extra pace bowler like Arshdeep Singh or a more attacking spinner. Shardul Thakur’s batting helped a bit in the second innings, but his bowling lacked the firepower needed. Prasidh Krishna looked rusty, and Ravindra Jadeja, though picking up a key wicket, couldn’t consistently threaten the batsmen.
Bumrah’s first innings spell was classic, fast, accurate, and deadly. But in the second innings, England’s batsmen, especially Duckett and Zak Crawley, handled him comfortably. Once Bumrah was contained, India’s bowling fell apart, showing just how much the team relies on him. England, on the other hand, stayed confident throughout. Their approach was smart and steady, not reckless but never passive. Duckett’s big 149 and Crawley’s strong 65 after an earlier failure laid the groundwork.
England matched India’s first innings total with 465, powered by Ollie Pope’s century and a near-century from Harry Brook. Then, chasing 371 on the final day, England batted patiently in the morning and accelerated when needed, showing excellent judgment that India couldn’t match.
India’s loss at Headingley wasn’t a disaster, but it was a missed chance. Gill’s young squad showed promise with strong top-order batting but exposed clear weaknesses, whether in middle-order stability, fielding, or bowling depth. This defeat could be a learning moment. Gill was honest about the team’s flaws after the match and said he still believes in this young side. The next Test in Birmingham will be crucial, as India will want to come back stronger and more complete.
