Follow Us7/41, 6/31 - two innings, and two collapses ultimately cost India a shot at setting England a target well beyond the 400-run mark - a psychological advantage. While in the first innings, India had to settle for 471 despite being in a pole position to push towards the 550-run mark, in the second, they got bundled out for 364 in the first Test at Headingley.
With the ball too, they weren’t as effective as they would have hoped, as England chased down 373 - the highest target chased at Headingley. In the aftermath of the loss, it was the Indian lower-order, and in particular, the ‘tail’ that came under criticism.
However, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir didn’t pinpoint the tail, stating that even ‘proper batters fail’.
"Look, first of all, it's not that they weren't applying themselves. Sometimes people fail. And that's okay," Gambhir said after a five-wicket loss at Headingley.
"I know it's disappointing. And more importantly, I think they were more disappointed than anyone, because they knew we had the opportunity. It's not like they're not working hard in the nets. These things happen. Even proper batters fail.”
“There was other moments as well where we could have won the Test match. I'm not going to sit here and single out 'it's because of the tail' or 'the tail couldn't contribute' or '8, 9, 10, 11 couldn't contribute'. We lose together, we win together."
Gambhir pointed out that had India got themselves 570 in the first innings, things and ultimately, the result would have been far different.
"If we could've got to 570, 580 in the first innings, we could've dominated from there," he said.
Another shocking aspect during the clash was what India did after they got the second new ball during the run chase. While anyone would have fairly assumed that Jasprit Bumrah was going to take the new ball, it went to Ravindra Jadeja, thus signalling that India indeed want to keep Bumrah fresh for the series.
But does that mean he will play more than the three Tests?
"No, we won't change the plans. I think for us to manage his workload is more important because there's a lot of cricket going forward and we know what he brings on the table as well. Before he came on the show, it was already decided that he's going to play three Test matches,” Gambhir stated.
India’s lack of experience with the ball was evident, but Gambhir yet again backed the young bowling unit, stating that these experiences would ultimately help in shaping them and their future.
"These are early days. If we start judging our bowlers after every Test, how will we develop a bowling attack? Outside Bumrah and [Mohammad] Siraj, we don't have that much experience, but they [the others] have quality, which is why they are in this dressing room. But we have got to keep backing them because it's not about one tour. It's about building a fast-bowler battery that can serve India for long time in Test cricket."