Leeds, England – India suffered a five-wicket defeat to England in the opening Test of the series at Headingley, a match that saw a strong batting performance from the visitors but ultimately ended in disappointment. Despite setting a challenging target of 371 runs in the fourth innings, India couldn’t hold off England’s aggressive approach, who chased it down with five wickets to spare on the final day.
India’s batting line-up showed great promise throughout the match, with an unusual five individual centuries scored across their two innings. Rishabh Pant was a standout, hitting tons in both innings, a rare feat for a wicketkeeper in Test history and the first for an Indian in England. Shubman Gill, in his captaincy debut, also scored a big hundred, as did openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul. Rahul’s second-innings century was particularly well-paced and impressive.
However, the team’s momentum was hampered by batting collapses in both innings. In the first innings, India went from a commanding position of 430 for 3 to being bowled out for 471, losing seven wickets for just 41 runs. A similar slide occurred in the second innings, where six wickets fell for only 31 runs. These collapses meant India couldn’t maximize their advantage, leaving England with a more manageable target than it could have been.
On the bowling front, Jasprit Bumrah was exceptional in the first innings, picking up five wickets and consistently troubling the English batsmen. However, he lacked consistent support from the other pacers, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, who struggled with their lines and lengths at times. Prasidh Krishna, in particular, was expensive, conceding runs at over six an over in both innings. Shardul Thakur did provide a brief spark with two quick wickets in the second innings, including the crucial dismissal of Ben Duckett, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide.
England’s chase in the final innings was powered by a brilliant 149 from opener Ben Duckett, who was rightly named Player of the Match. He, along with Zak Crawley (65), set up a solid 188-run opening partnership, which laid a strong foundation. Even when India managed to pick up wickets, Joe Root (53 not out) and debutant Jamie Smith (44 not out) steered England home with a calm, unbeaten partnership.
Crucial moments that slipped away for India included dropped catches, especially in the first innings, which allowed England to build partnerships and post a good total themselves. The inconsistent bowling outside of Bumrah’s spells also allowed England to score freely and keep the scoreboard moving.
Looking ahead to the next matches, India needs to address these issues. The batting collapses are a clear area of concern; converting good starts into truly dominant scores will be vital. The bowlers, especially the pace attack beyond Bumrah, need to find more consistency and provide sustained pressure. Fielding, too, will be key, as dropped chances proved costly in this game.
The second Test is scheduled to begin on July 2nd at Edgbaston, Birmingham. India will need to learn from this defeat and come back stronger to challenge England in the rest of the five-match series.
