New Delhi: As England gears up to build on the momentum in the second Test of the five-match series from 2 July in Edgbaston, the Shubman Gill-led India will be looking back at their performance to take some lessons before squaring off with the home side.
Currently, England is 1-0 up as it chased a target of 371 runs in the fourth innings at Headingley courtesy opener Ben Duckett’s exquisite 149 runs. In the process, England posted their second highest successful run chase in Test history after it scored 378 runs against India in Edgbaston three years ago.
ThePrint looks back at the see-saw moments in the first Test match that saw for the first time a side lose after having five centurions in the match.
Day 1: Pant’s fireworks, Gill’s statement
It was all about the batting show of Indian skipper and vice-captain Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant on the opening day on a batting wicket. Prior to the fireworks, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal struck a patient century, cementing his spot in the game’s history by becoming the first Indian opener to score a Test century at Headingley.
Shubman blazed to an unbeaten 127, thereby answering his critics with authority. The combination of poise and precision on the pitch had the viewers as well as the commentators on their hold. K.L.Rahul contributed 42, but it was Rishabh Pant’s attack in the game with a brisk 62 which saw India end Day 1 at 359/3.
The opening day had its share of drama like England conceding five penalty runs after Joe Root deflected a throw onto a helmet. What followed on was a cheeky exchange between Stokes and Pant mid-over, as the English skipper was flabbergasted by his audacious six down the ground.
Early in the innings, Gill attempted a tight single that almost led to a run-out, causing a moment of concern for India. English bowlers appeared to be clueless as their body language showed signs of tiredness in the face of Indian batting.
Day 2: Pant’s cartwheel, Bumrah’s no-ball
Pant lit up the session with a trademark six to reach his eighth Test century and sixth away from home followed by a flamboyant cartwheel celebration. The joy was short-lived. Once medium pacer Josh Tongue dismissed the Indian vice-captain, India fell like a pack of cards. From 430/3, they were bowled out for 471, losing seven wickets for 41 runs. Tongue and Stokes exploited the second new ball to expose India’s ever-wobbly tail.
England responded in true Bazball style, racing to 209/3 by stumps, with Ollie Pope and Duckett launching a counter-assault. Bumrah took three wickets. Then came the final over heartbreak. Harry Brook miscued an ugly pull to midwicket, but Bumrah had overstepped.
The no-ball went viral: ‘No-ball merchant strikes again!’ said one meme.
Pacer Mohammed Siraj bowled with frustration after a dropped catch and a near-edge, even engaging in a fiery exchange with Duckett.
Day 3: Brook falls short, Bumrah roars
England resumed strongly, with Harry Brook once again making the most of a lifeline. Yashasvi Jaiswal spilled yet another chance before Brook finally fell on 99 to Prasidh Krishna. England finished their innings at 465, as tailenders surrendered to Bumrah’s five‐wicket haul at tea.
India began their second innings under gloomy skies, with K.L.Rahul and Sai Sudharsan
cautiously rebuilding. Sudharsan survived a tough chance early on, adding a few gritty
boundaries before falling to England captain Ben Stokes for 30. Rahul continued to anchor the innings, reaching 47 not out.
By stumps, rain halted play, frustrating Stokes who remarked he had India “on the
ropes.” India closed at 90/2 with a 96-run lead, facing a tense Day 4.
Also Read: England vs India, 1st Test, day 1: How Gill’s 100 & Pant’s 50 set India off to a running start
Day 4: Pant’s second ton, Tongue’s triple strike
Rahul brought up a silent yet significant century. Pant, approached a rare second century in the same match, as he slowed down dramatically in the 90s even prompting former cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri to peek out from the balcony, hoping for another cartwheel. But when he finally got there, he offered only a sheepish shrug.
Still, the script didn’t change. India once again collapsed. From 333/4, they folded for 364.
Josh Tongue ran riot as he removed Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah in four balls. For the second time in the match, India lost six wickets for under 35 runs.
England was given a target of 371 to win and began the chase confidently. Duckett and Crawley knocked off 21 runs by stumps. Bumrah tested Duckett with a bruising thigh-rap, but the left-hander stood firm. The match was set for a thriller.
Day 5: Duckett dismantles, Jaiswal’s butter hands
What was built up as a tight finish turned into a cakewalk. Duckett cruised to 149 runs and
Crawley added 65 runs, as India’s bowlers ran out of answers. But the real damage came from
the fielding unit. India dropped seven catches across the match, four of them from Jaiswal alone. On Day 5, he dropped Duckett on 97 at deep square leg. That moment was symbolic.
India now hold the unwanted record of most drops in a Test since 2019, according to CricViz.
The all-time record? Still theirs—12 drops against England in Mumbai (2006). With Duckett rubbing salt into wounds, Root (53) and Jamie Smith (44*) took England home.
While Bumrah scalped five wickets in the first innings, he was not effective in the second innings and in the process, exposing India’s over reliance on the pace spearhead. Prasidh leaked runs, Shardul chipped in but lacked bite, and India’s toothless attack was laid bare. With Bumrah not expected to play all five Tests, Siraj will have to leave behind his frustration of the first test to lead the pace attack.
Could spinner Kuldeep Yadav be the attacking option India desperately needs on batting-friendly pitches? That’s a call Gill and the team management must make fast. The series moves to Edgbaston, home to England’s highest chase against India. Shubman Gill’s team has plenty to reflect on, because Bazball isn’t waiting around.
Sana Cheryl Felix is an intern who graduated from ThePrint School of Journalism
(Edited by Tony Rai)