Shubman Gill Laments Missed Opportunities as England Clinch Thriller in First Test
In a heart-stopping finale at Headingley, England drew first blood in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series, defeating India by five wickets in the opening Test on Tuesday. Chasing a daunting 371, the hosts were propelled by Ben Duckett’s sensational 149 and an unbroken 71-run partnership between Joe Root (53*) and debutant Jamie Smith (44*), sealing the victory in just 82 overs. For India, skipper Shubman Gill was left to rue missed chances and a lower-order collapse that ultimately cost his side the match.
The final day began with India holding a glimmer of hope, having reduced England to 299/5 after a wicketless morning session. However, the bowlers failed to capitalize, and Duckett’s fourth-innings masterclass turned the tide. A crucial drop by Yashasvi Jaiswal when Duckett was on 98 proved to be a turning point, as the opener went on to dominate the Indian attack. ‘We had our chances,’ Gill admitted in the post-match press conference. ‘Dropped catches and the lower order not contributing enough hurt us badly. Yesterday, we aimed for a target of 430, but our last few wickets fell for just 25 runs. Even today, after a brilliant start with the first wicket, the chances didn’t go our way.’
India’s struggles were evident in both innings, with batting collapses haunting them at critical junctures. ‘We discussed our first-innings collapse extensively,’ Gill noted. ‘These things happen, but we need to rectify them moving forward. On pitches like this, chances are hard to come by, and we must grab them. We’re a young team, and we’re learning.’ Despite Jasprit Bumrah’s fiery spells and Ravindra Jadeja’s probing lines—creating multiple opportunities—the fielding lapses, including a missed chance off Jadeja when Rishabh Pant reacted late to a lobbed ball, compounded India’s woes.
England’s Duckett, rightfully named Player of the Match, reflected on the rollercoaster nature of the game. ‘It was an incredible Test match. At times, we were behind, but massive credit to our bowlers for keeping India’s totals in check,’ he said. ‘If they had added another 50-60 runs, it could’ve been a different story. Limiting Bumrah’s impact was key for us.’ Meanwhile, England captain Ben Stokes lauded his team’s resilience. ‘Chasing a big total on day five is always special. Duckett’s partnership with Zak Crawley set the tone brilliantly, and the whole team showed tremendous attitude,’ Stokes beamed.
As the dust settles on this gripping encounter, India must regroup quickly ahead of the second Test starting July 2 at Edgbaston, Birmingham. With lessons to learn from Headingley—be it tightening their fielding or ensuring the tail wags—Gill’s men will be eager to level the series. For England, this victory reinforces their belief in high-pressure chases, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling series. Can India bounce back, or will England’s momentum prove unstoppable? The battle lines are drawn for another epic showdown.