Leeds: Shuman Gill’s Test captaincy debut didn’t go as planned, as India slumped to a five-wicket defeat against England in the opening match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Headingley. Despite a few bright moments, the young Indian skipper admitted that missed chances and a lack of lower-order support ultimately cost them the match.
India, who had England on the ropes at various points during the Test, let the game slip due to poor fielding, inconsistent bowling support for Jasprit Bumrah, and a fragile tail-end batting display.
“I think it was a brilliant Test match overall. We had our chances—we dropped catches, and our lower-order didn’t contribute enough. But I’m proud of the team and the effort we put in,” said Shubman Gill at the post-match presentation.
Reflecting on the collapse that saw India lose six wickets for just over 20 runs in the second innings, Gill said the team had hoped to declare near the 430-run mark.
“Yesterday, we were thinking of getting around 430 and declaring. But the last six wickets fell quickly, which isn’t ideal,” he noted.
India’s second innings collapse left England a target of 371, which they chased down comfortably, thanks to a strong opening partnership and lack of bite in India’s bowling—apart from Bumrah’s efforts.
India’s fielding woes came back to haunt them. Yashasvi Jaiswal alone dropped four catches, and several other opportunities went begging. Gill acknowledged that in high-pressure games, such lapses can turn the tide.
“Chances don’t come easy, especially on wickets like these. We dropped quite a few. But we’ve got a young team—still learning. Hopefully, we can improve in the next matches,” he said.
Gill praised England’s openers, who took control once the ball got older, making it harder for India’s bowlers to make breakthroughs.
“In the first session, we bowled really well and were quite accurate. But once the ball got old, it became tough. Some edges didn’t carry, and they batted smartly. Their opening stand took the game away from us,” Gill said.
India did find a breakthrough late in the match when Ravindra Jadeja dismissed England captain Ben Stokes, but earlier missed opportunities, including a couple of dropped catches by Rishabh Pant, added to India’s woes.
“Jadeja bowled brilliantly and created a few chances, but not all of them were taken. That’s part of the game,” said Gill.
Despite being captain, there were moments during the match when KL Rahul appeared to be directing field placements and decisions, raising questions about Gill’s assertiveness as a leader and head coach Gautam Gambhir’s ability to guide a young side in the longest format.
Despite the defeat, Gill remains optimistic and is focused on learning and improving with the young squad.
“Every match teaches you something. We’ll take the positives and work hard to come back stronger,” he said.
India will look to bounce back in the second Test as they trail 0-1 in the five-match series.
