Shubman Gill, after experiencing his first Test match as India's captain, didn't shy away from addressing the shortcomings that led to their defeat against England at Headingley. Despite India putting up a strong fight, with five batsmen notching up centuries, England successfully chased down a target of 371, exposing some critical flaws in the Indian team's performance.
Gill acknowledged that the team had opportunities but failed to capitalize on them. He pointed to dropped catches and the lower order's lack of contribution as significant factors in the loss. Specifically, he highlighted the second innings where India collapsed, preventing them from setting a more challenging target. "Yesterday, we were thinking of giving them around 430, but our last wickets fell for 25," Gill stated, emphasizing the importance of capitalizing on strong positions.
Fielding lapses were a major concern, with the team dropping multiple catches, including a crucial one by Yashasvi Jaiswal when Ben Duckett was on 97; Duckett went on to score 149 and was named Player of the Match. Gill admitted the team needs to improve their fielding, especially on critical final-day pitches.
Gill also touched upon the bowling strategy and the challenges faced when the ball got older. He said that while the first session saw tight bowling, it became difficult to contain runs as the ball softened. He emphasized the need to keep taking wickets at regular intervals to maintain control. While praising Ravindra Jadeja's brilliant bowling, he noted that chances created weren't always converted. There were questions raised about Jasprit Bumrah's workload and effectiveness in the second innings, where he went wicketless. Gill mentioned that Bumrah's workload would be assessed before the next Test.
Despite the defeat, Gill maintained a positive outlook, acknowledging that the team is young and still learning. He expressed hope for improvement in the upcoming matches, emphasizing the importance of learning from their mistakes. "Chances don't come easy on wickets like this, but we have a young team. Learning one. Hope to improve that," Gill stated, highlighting the team's potential for growth.
Former cricketers and analysts have also weighed in on India's performance. Sunil Gavaskar pointed out that the team is not yet "Test class", and there were concerns about over-reliance on Jasprit Bumrah, similar to criticisms during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The lack of support from other bowlers and the choice of Shardul Thakur as an all-rounder were also questioned.
Looking ahead, Gill's focus is on rectifying the identified flaws and ensuring the team bounces back stronger in the next Test. The second Test of the series is scheduled to be held at Edgbaston in Birmingham from July 2 to July 6.
