India were in control for most of the Headingley Test. With five individual centuries and a six-run first innings lead, it felt like Shubman Gill would register a win in his debut Test match as India captain.
But what followed on the final day shocked fans as England chased down 371 with ease, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
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Legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar didn’t shy away from pointing fingers. He raised concerns about India’s fielding and inability to close the game despite a strong position.
Let’s take a look at what Gavaskar had to say after the defeat.
What did Gavaskar say about India’s performance?
Gavaskar praised England’s fightback, but made it clear that India let it slip. According to him, even after scoring five centuries, the Indian team failed to capitalise. He pointed out that England showed more belief when it mattered.
While speaking on TV, Gavaskar said India’s overall effort, especially in the field, didn’t meet the standard expected in Test cricket. He called the ground fielding “ordinary” and added that it wasn’t just about missed catches; the team also leaked runs through misfields.
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"Full credit to England. Despite India having five centurions, they seemed to have that confidence. That is what made them take the final wickets. So that is where India also missed out because those extra runs could have made the difference," Gavaskar said on Sony Sports.
"As far as the fielding was concerned, it's just not the catch but the outfielding was pretty ordinary. Not Test class," he added.
Did Sunil Gavaskar blame the bowlers after the defeat?
Gavaskar didn’t blame the bowlers harshly, saying it was a good pitch for batting. He acknowledged Jasprit Bumrah’s efforts and praised his control, but pointed out the lack of proper support from the other end.
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He added that if someone had kept things tighter while Bumrah attacked, the pressure might have broken England’s chase. Gavaskar also hoped this loss would serve as a wake-up call.
"Very good pitch to bat on so very tough to criticise the bowlers. Bumrah bowled so well. If he had somebody keeping it bit tight, that would have been big help. But this is the first Test. Hopefully, lessons have been learned. There are eight days for the next match," said Gavaskar.