Match Recap

England chased down an imposing 371 in Leeds, sealing a five-wicket victory and a 1-0 series lead. The Test swung dramatically: three Indian centurions set up a mammoth 471, only for England’s Duckett (149) and Root (53*) to script a remarkable run chase on the final day.

India’s Performance: Expert Dissection

Batting

• Top-Order Brilliance, Lower-Order Collapse: Shubman Gill (147), Rishabh Pant (134), and Jaiswal (101) gave India dominance on Day 1, ending 385/3. However, India lost their last seven wickets in both innings for just over 60 runs combined, surrendering the advantage built by the top order.
• Missed Opportunity: India could have posted a score close to 600, but two collapses (from 430/3 to 471 and 333/4 to 364) meant England wasn’t out of the contest.
• Pressure Points: As Gavaskar noted, despite five Indian centuries, the team lacked killer instinct and failed to close out strong starts.

Bowling & Fielding

• Bumrah’s World-Class Spell: Jasprit Bumrah’s 5/83 on a benign pitch was a masterclass in reverse swing and control, bringing India back into the contest on Day 3.
• Catching Sins: India’s bowlers created chances, but six dropped catches—including Duckett on 97—proved fatal. Those errors enabled England to stay within reach and mount an audacious chase on the final day, a point emphasized by pundit consensus.
• Dwindling Support: While Bumrah provided breakthroughs, the rest of the bowling unit struggled to exert sustained pressure, particularly against an aggressive English approach.

Expert Analysis

• Mental Edge: Experts pointed out that India’s inability to capitalize on ascendancy, both with the bat and in the field, was central to the defeat.
• Bowling Depth Issues: Absence of support for Bumrah meant pressure was not sustained, allowing game-changers like Duckett and Root to swing momentum back.