ENG vs. IND, First Test: Leeds sorrow hurts Shubman Gill's new India with old faults

Shubman Gill’s debut as India’s Test captain at Leeds was a dramatic baptism by fire—full of promise, but ultimately marred by familiar failings and strategic missteps. Despite scoring over 800 runs across two innings, having four centurions, and a five-wicket haul from Jasprit Bumrah, India fell short, losing a match that had looked well within their grasp.

🧩 Where the Test Was Lost

• Ineffective Bowling Beyond Bumrah:

  • Bumrah’s match figures: 5/83 (1st inns), 0/57 (2nd inns)

  • Rest of Indian attack: 5/382 (1st), 316/5 (2nd)
    The gulf in bowling effectiveness couldn’t have been starker. England targeted the support bowlers with intent, neutralising Bumrah’s impact in the fourth innings.

• Poor Fielding & Missed Chances:
  India's fielding was below par, with dropped chances and lapses that released pressure at key moments—something a team can ill afford against an aggressive side like England under Bazball.

• Lower-Order Collapses:

  • 1st innings: 430/3 → 471 all out

  • 2nd innings: 333/4 → 364 all out
    These collapses exposed a brittle tail and poor game management, denying India the extra 70–80 runs that could have altered the result.

• Mismanagement of Shardul Thakur:
  Despite being selected as an all-rounder, Shardul bowled only six overs in the first innings. When given a longer spell in the second innings, he dismissed Duckett and showed he could contribute—but it came a bit too late.

🧠 Tactical Errors by New Captain Gill

Gill’s field placements, trust distribution among bowlers, and inability to stem the flow of runs on Day 5 will draw scrutiny. But, to his credit:

• He showed batting maturity, scoring a crucial century under pressure.

• He was transparent in post-match assessments, acknowledging the tail collapses and the inexperience of his attack.

However, decisions like not fielding five specialist bowlers against a side known for fourth-innings chases under Bazball raised eyebrows. With the pitch offering little help on Day 5, India needed more incisive bowling options.

🏏 England's Strategic Brilliance

• Bazball Execution:
  England have now chased 250+ six times in this new era. Their fearless brand of cricket and belief in attacking play has changed the rules of the game.

• Duckett’s Masterclass (149) and Crawley’s Partnership:
  Their 188-run opening stand was the turning point. They nullified Bumrah, went after the second-tier bowlers, and maintained a run rate of 4.38 per over—in a 371-run chase.

• Stokes’ Captaincy and Bowling:
  With a depleted bowling attack, Ben Stokes marshalled his resources well. His own five wickets and smart rotations kept India in check.

• Josh Tongue’s Emergence:
  Tongue’s 7 wickets in the match gave England a new weapon in the absence of Archer, Wood, and Atkinson.

🔍 Spotlight on Gambhir and Indian Think Tank

Gautam Gambhir’s 6 losses in 11 Tests as head coach now put him under pressure. Several selection choices, including the inclusion of a half-fit Shardul Thakur and the over-reliance on IPL performers like Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana in red-ball cricket, will come under the scanner.

With four Tests remaining in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, India have the talent to bounce back—but must:

• Rethink their bowling combinations

• Fix the fragile lower order

• Trust in experience where needed, while managing the learning curve of younger players

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Next steps?

India may look to bring in bowlers like Akash Deep or Mukesh Kumar, and possibly revisit the all-rounder role. But most importantly, they must recalibrate their approach to Bazball-style Test cricket, where defense alone no longer suffices.