Headline: Former India Selector Blames Fielding Lapses for Test Defeat Against England; Urges Patience

Friday - 11/07/2025 05:02

India faced a defeat against England in the first Test at Headingley. Kiran More emphasized the importance of fielding. He noted dropped catches proved costly. England chased down 371 runs. Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and Yashasvi Jaiswal scored centuries in the first innings. More believes the team is in transition. He asks for time and support for the new players.

Following India's five-wicket loss to England in the first Test, former Indian selector Kiran More is advocating for patience with the Indian Test team. He specifically identified lapses in fielding as a critical factor in the defeat.

Yashasvi Jaiswal reflects after scoring a century.

"We played very well for four days," More told IANS. "I think the mistake came on the last day when England played outstanding cricket. Fielding was where we slipped. Those were simple catches — no one drops those — and that made the difference."

England successfully chased down a target of 371 runs on the final day, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. Ben Duckett led the charge with 149, supported by Joe Root's unbeaten 53 and Jamie Smith's 44 not out. This victory stands as England's second-highest successful chase ever, and their highest against India in Test matches.

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"In the first two days, we were really good, and I felt we could've added another 100–150 runs to our total. If we had scored 450 in the first innings, things might've been different. In the second innings, Rishabh and KL Rahul did well. But again, we collapsed at key moments."

Key Innings and Turning Points

India's first innings saw them amass 471, fueled by centuries from Shubman Gill (147), Rishabh Pant (134), and Yashasvi Jaiswal (101). However, a sudden collapse saw them lose seven wickets for only 41 runs. England responded strongly with 465, with significant contributions from Duckett (62), Ollie Pope (106), and Brook (99), and their last five wickets added 189 runs.

In the second innings, India appeared to be in a commanding position at 333/4, thanks to a 195-run partnership between Pant (118) and K.L. Rahul (137). However, a dramatic collapse ensued, with the team losing six wickets for just 31 runs, eventually being dismissed for 364 and setting England a target of 371.

Calls for Patience and Support

"We've got a good, balanced team, but this team is still in transition. I think we need to give them time — a year or so — to settle, find the right combination, and grow into a strong unit. We've scored over 750 runs across both innings, so the batting is there. But we can't keep depending on Bumrah. He needs support — especially from the spinners."

Jasprit Bumrah, despite his efforts, went wicketless in the second innings. Prasidh Krishna's performance proved expensive, and the dropped catches, particularly those of Harry Brook, proved to be costly for India.

"We've seen it before — from Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Sachin, to Kohli and Rohit. Now it's time for new faces to step up. They need time and support. If we keep playing like this and keep making the same mistakes, we won't improve. But give this group time, and we'll have a good team."

The successful chase at Headingley marked the third time a target over 350 has been achieved at this venue. This match also became only the third in Test history where all four innings exceeded 350 runs, underscoring the high-scoring nature of the contest.

Tags: IND vs ENG, Jasprit Bumrah, Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, England cricket, Rishabh Pant, Ben Duckett, Test cricket, Kiran More, K.L Rahul, cricket fielding issues

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