27 Jun, 2025 - For years now, Team India and its fans have dreamed of beating England in their own backyard. There have been flashes of brilliance on recent SENA tours—especially in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy—but actually sealing the deal in England has remained just out of reach. The closest India came was during Virat Kohli’s captaincy, when India looked poised to break the jinx.

This time around, with Shubman Gill taking over the reins, there was a renewed sense of optimism. A fresh leader, a confident squad—everything seemed to line up. But Headingley had different ideas. England, as always, showed up with grit and experience. So what exactly went wrong for India in Leeds? Let’s break it down.

1. Dramatic batting collapses

India led strongly in both innings—reaching 430/3 in the first and 333/4 in the second—with five centuries across their top order. But then the tail crumbled: 7 wickets for 41 runs in the first innings and 6 for 31 in the second. The lower order simply collapsed under pressure.

2. Shattering fielding lapses
A total of six dropped catches—four by Yashasvi Jaiswal—proved fatal. One dropped chance when Ben Duckett was on 97 enabled him to reach 149 and steer England home. Sunil Gavaskar blasted the fielding as “not Test class,” condemning both catching and general ground work.

3. Over-reliance on Bumrah and lacklustre bowling support
Jasprit Bumrah delivered 5/83 in the first innings and bowled well, but faltered wicketlessly in the fourth innings. The remaining bowlers—Siraj, Thakur, Jadeja, and Prasidh Krishna—offered little penetration when it mattered. Critics argued for more variety, like an additional pacer or wrist-spinner.

4. England’s resolute chase
A 188-run opening stand between Duckett (149) and Zak Crawley set the tone. Joe Root and Jamie Smith later shepherded the chase, displaying classic Bazball resilience. This became England's second-highest successful fourth-innings chase, with their calm yet aggressive approach eventually overwhelming India.

5. Strategic missteps and selection doubts
Stuart Broad pointed fingers at India’s team selection, calling it “questionable” and urging changes before Edgbaston. Coaches and fans criticized recent tactics; head coach Gautam Gambhir came under significant social media scrutiny after the loss.

Final Score at Headingley

  • England: 465 & 373/5 (chase of 371)

  • India: 471 & 364

  • Result: England win by 5 wickets.

What’s next?

India must shore up fielding, rebuild the bowling attack, and balance their lineup. The focus shifts fast to the second Test at Edgbaston starting July 2, where improvements are crucial to avoid falling 0–2 down in this five‑match series.