India vs. England: India suffer defeat in first Test despite Rishabh Pant masterclass
Shubman Gill era kicks off with defeat at Headingley
Shubman Gill’s first match as captain of the India Test squad ended in disappointment, as his team suffered a five-wicket defeat at Headingley on Tuesday evening after posting a second innings target of 371. The result also confirmed our cricket prediction for the match.
On a batting-friendly surface, India got off to an excellent start on Day 1, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and fellow opener KL Rahul putting on a 91-run first-wicket stand to give their side a solid foundation to build on for the remainder of the match.
Jaiswal went on to score 101 at the top of the order, while his skipper and newly appointed vice-captain Rishabh Pant also produced stellar knocks in the middle of the innings, finishing on 147 (227) and 134 (178) respectively, helping their side to a first-innings total of 471.
Jasprit Bumrah, who is only expected to play three of the five Tests over the coming month, was the pick of the Indian bowlers in the first innings, notching up an incredible 5/83 in 24.4 overs, at an economy rate of just 3.36. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna shared the five remaining wickets.
However, aside from Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, all of India’s bowlers were expensive in their spells, and England managed to post 465 runs before being bowled out, just six runs behind the Men in Blue’s first innings tally.
England mount fightback in second innings
In the second innings, Jaiswal was dismissed for just four runs, but Rahul took up the mantle and anchored the innings, scoring a stunning 137 from 247 deliveries, despite the wickets of Sai Sudharsan and Gill falling around him.
Pant arrived at the crease with the score at 92/3, and together with Rahul, the duo managed a 195-run partnership for the fourth wicket that seemingly put India firmly in the driver’s seat. The team’s lower order failed to make a significant impact, but India ended their second innings with 364, leaving England with a target of 371.
After surviving a tricky few overs late on Day 4, stumps were called with England still having all their wickets intact, and they kicked on with purpose on Day 5, with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett delivering a 188-run opening stand before the former departed.
Duckett was eventually dismissed for 149 off 170 deliveries, but Joe Root once again proved his class, leading the Three Lions to an opening match victory with 53 runs at number four, while Ben Stokes and Jamie Smith also made important contributions.
A rain disruption after lunch gave India hope of making inroads late in the day, but their bowlers were unable to have an impact late on, with Bumrah ending wicketless in the second innings. Krishna was arguably the pick of the bowlers, picking up 2/92 before England secured the result.
The series will now shift to Edgbaston in Birmingham with game two scheduled to commence on July 2.
