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Gautam Gambhir Defends India’s Lower Order After Headingley Collapse, Stresses No Excuses for Defeat
India’s Missed Opportunities and Fielding Woes Highlight Frustrating Loss to England in First Test
Leeds, Headingley — Team India’s hopes of sealing the opening Test of the England tour crumbled on Day 5 as they failed to defend a sizeable 371-run target. England cruised to victory with five wickets in hand, scripting their second-highest successful Test chase and handing India their seventh defeat in the last nine Tests. Despite multiple standout performances with the bat, collapses and fielding lapses haunted India once again.
Two Middle-Order Collapses Undermine India’s Big Scores
Pant’s Twin Tons Overshadowed by Lower Order Woes
India accumulated a whopping 835 runs across both innings, including centuries from Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (in both innings), and KL Rahul. But the gloss faded quickly due to two shocking collapses: 7 for 41 in the first innings and 6 for 31 in the second.
These collapses nullified India’s advantage after posting a commanding 471 in the first innings. England, after winning the toss, matched it closely with 465. The second innings meltdown left India defending a target of 371 — one that England pursued confidently from the start.
📘 Also Read: Ben Duckett Leads England to Historic Victory Over India
Gambhir Backs Lower Order: “Even Proper Batters Fail”
India’s Head Coach Urges Perspective After Costly Dismissals
Despite questions over the lower-order’s repeated failures, head coach Gautam Gambhir offered a balanced take. Referring to Shardul Thakur’s rash strokes and Prasidh Krishna’s sweep attempt, Gambhir said these moments reflected pressure rather than a lack of effort.
“It’s not like they weren’t trying. Even proper batters fail,” Gambhir said. “They’re disappointed too. It’s not the only reason we lost this Test match. Hopefully, the tail will improve moving forward.”
The coach emphasized that collapses are part of the game and should not be blamed entirely on the bowlers-turned-batters. He underlined that India’s fielding errors and missed opportunities were equally responsible.
Fielding Failures: Dropped Catches Haunt India Again
Jaiswal Drops Four, Duckett Punishes India
India’s catching efficiency was alarmingly poor, dropping seven catches in the match. Yashasvi Jaiswal was the chief offender, spilling four chances — three in the first innings and a costly drop on Day 5 that gave Ben Duckett a lifeline on 97. Duckett capitalized, going on to score 149 and anchor England’s record chase.
Captain Shubman Gill acknowledged the fielding woes in the post-match press conference:
“We spoke about it. On wickets like these, chances are rare. We need to convert them. It’s an area we must work on in the next games.”
Gambhir Rejects ‘Young Team’ Excuse
Though Gill hinted at the youthfulness of the squad being a factor, Gambhir disagreed.
“It’s not about a young or experienced team. It’s an Indian team. There are no excuses. We play to win for 140 crore Indians,” he stated emphatically.
Managing Bumrah’s Workload a Priority
Star Pacer to Play Only Two More Tests
Gambhir also addressed Jasprit Bumrah’s availability, confirming that the fast bowler will feature in only three Tests during the series as part of a pre-decided workload management plan.
“We knew this going in. Bumrah will play just two more Tests. But we believe in our bowling group — they’re inexperienced but capable,” Gambhir added.
India’s bowling unit showed flashes of brilliance across all five days but lacked consistency during crucial sessions.
Key Takeaways from India’s Loss
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India scored 835 runs but collapsed twice at critical moments
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Rishabh Pant’s twin centuries were not enough
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Dropped catches — including a vital one on Duckett — cost India dearly
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Gambhir took accountability, emphasizing trust in the team over excuses
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Bumrah will play two more Tests this series as per workload plans
