Leeds: Following India’s five-wicket defeat to England in the opening Test at Headingley, head coach Gautam Gambhir came out in staunch defence of his largely inexperienced bowling attack, urging critics not to pass judgment too soon.
England comfortably chased down a target of 371 runs, with Jasprit Bumrah standing out as the only consistent performer with the ball. Other bowlers failed to make an impact, prompting questions about India’s pace strategy.
Gambhir acknowledged the lack of experience beyond Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, describing the situation as akin to “throwing them in the sea” without adequate exposure.
“These are early days. If we start judging our bowlers after every Test, how will we build a world-class attack? Earlier, we had four fast bowlers with over 40 Tests of experience each. That kind of experience counts in places like England, Australia, and South Africa,” Gambhir said after the match.
He emphasized the need for patience in developing a strong fast-bowling core for the long haul.
“Outside Bumrah and Siraj, the others may not have experience, but they have the quality to be in this dressing room. It’s not about one tour—it’s about building a bowling battery for the future,” he added.
Gambhir also responded to criticism over the limited use of all-rounder Shardul Thakur, who bowled just 16 overs across both innings, with only six in the first.
“Sometimes, captains go with their instincts. Ravindra Jadeja gave us control in the first innings, allowing us to rotate the other pacers. Just because Shardul is the fourth seamer doesn’t mean he has to bowl more than a spinner. The decision was based on conditions,” he explained.
On the broader result, Gambhir maintained that every defeat stings—regardless of whether the team is young or experienced.
“There are no excuses. A defeat is a defeat—we represent 140 crore Indians. We need to own it and learn from it,” he said firmly.
With England leading the five-match series 1-0, the Indian team will now regroup ahead of the second Test, with Gambhir hoping for a more cohesive performance from his developing pace unit.
