Sacking In Team India After 1st Test Loss? Sunil Gavaskar Delivers Judgement: "Kuldeep Yadav Has To Come For..."
The India vs England 1st Test, for the first four days, looked within the grasp of the Shubman Gill -led side. But on the final day, Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley batted with domination in the first session to keep India under the pump. Duckett went on to score 149 as England chased down a target of 371 in Leeds. The match saw five Indians scoring centuries and yet the team ended up on the losing side. It was a harsh wake-up call for new captain Shubman Gill and coach Gautam Gambhir.
After the loss, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar suggested changes in the XI for the second Test that starts in Birmingham on July 2. "Whether Jasprit Bumrah is fit or not, I think Kuldeep Yadav has to come into the team. I do believe that he should come into the team for Shardul Thakur because the Birmingham pitch will be one where there will be just a little bit of help for the wrist spinner," Gavaskar told the broadcasters.
"If things don't go well in the second test, maybe Sai (Sudharsan) and Karun (Nair). I don't want to drop them at the moment. Then I'd also look at Washington (Sundar), so that it really gives you a more solid batting, and also get a little more variety as far the bowling is concerned."
Sunil Gavaskar analysed the reasons behind the loss.
"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. As far as the fielding was concerned, it's just not the catch but the out-fielding was pretty ordinary. Not Test class," he said on Sony Sports.
"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. "
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
43 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘Why is Yashasvi Jaiswal dropping catches?': Mohammad Kaif explains reason behind India opener's fielding woes vs England
Former India player Mohammad Kaif, known for his excellent fielding in his heyday, explained the reason why Yashasvi Jaiswal may have dropped crucial catches during the India vs England 1st Test at Leeds. According to Kaif, the strap which Jaiswal has put around his hands may have a role to play in his dismal catching against the hosts. 'Why is Yashasvi Jaiswal dropping catches? We are practicing with Duke's ball, and when we get hurt, we put a strap. In such a situation, the fingers are stuck and there is no free movement. You can't hold onto the catch because the strap becomes a sponge. The ball bounces off it, so that's the drawback. The natural connection with the ball shouldn't be lost,' he said on his YouTube channel. India notched up a subpar fielding record against England at Leeds which went a long way in the visitors losing the match by 5 wickets as England chased down 371 runs. Why is Yashasvi Jaiswal dropping catches? The reason could be the band on his palm. Listen. — Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) June 25, 2025 In the first innings, Ollie Pope tried to steer Bumrah through the cordon, but got a thick edge which Jaiswal dropped in the cordon, the ball hitting the wrists. Pope went on to make 106. He would next drop Harry Brook in the same innings. As Brook tried to guide Bumrah through the slip cordon, all that he managed was an edge which went in the direction of Jaiswal at fourth slip. But the Indian opener fluffed a simple chance, handing Brook another life. In the second innings, Mohammed Siraj delivered a short ball with fielders lined-up on the leg-side boundary. Jaiswal ran in, covered the ground and got both hands to the ball, but couldn't hold on to it as Siraj looked totally frustrated. Duckett went on to make a match-winning 149. Not just Jaiswal, even players like Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant and Bumrah also ended up dropping catches which ultimately paved the way for an England victory.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
India pacer released from squad after loss in 1st Test against England: Report
The Indian team suffered a disappointing five-wicket loss against England in the first Test. After the game, India released a pacer from the squad and asked him to fly back home. Gautam Gambhir had hinted about this in the presser on Tuesday. read more A day after India lost the first Test against England at Headingley, young pacer Harshit Rana has reportedly been released from the squad. According to a report by The Times of India, Rana did not travel with the rest of the Indian team to Birmingham, where the second Test will be played from 2 July. Harshit Rana released from India squad The rest of the team reportedly left Leeds by bus around 11:30 am local time on Wednesday, but Rana stayed back and is slated to fly back home. This move comes after India head coach Gautam Gambhir suggested that Rana may not stay with the squad for the rest of the tour. 'I haven't spoken to the chairman of selectors yet; I will speak to him because there was a bit of a niggle in the group. That is why we wanted Harshit as a backup. But at the moment, everything looks fine, so if everyone is fit, he would have to fly back,' Gambhir said at the post-match press conference. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rana was a late addition to the main squad, joining just a couple of days before the first Test at Headingley. He was originally part of the India A team that played two first-class games against the England Lions. After those matches, he was asked to stay back with the senior squad as a backup pacer. Rana did not feature in the playing XI for the first Test, which India lost by five wickets despite scoring five centuries. This was the first time in Test cricket history that a team lost after scoring five tons in a game.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Despite fiery clash, star cricketer hails Virat Kohli as his 'Big Idol', his name is...
Virat Kohli. (PIC - X) New Delhi: Australia's Sam Konstas and Virat Kohli had a heated argument during the Boxing Day Test at the MCG last year. But Australia's emerging young opener still has respect for Indian batsman Virat Kohli. He himself said during an interview that I grew up watching him. He is my idol. 'I feel his wrists are incredible. The way he accesses the leg side… I've been growing up watching him play. Big idol,' Konstas said months after his on-field clash with Virat Kohli raised eyebrows. 'I think the emotions got to both of us. I didn't quite realise; I was doing my gloves, then [there was] a little shoulder charge. But it happens in cricket,' Konstas had told Channel 7 after hitting an adventurous 60 on debut that unsettled the Indians who had fought valiantly to keep the series levelled 1-1 until then. Kohli was fined 20% of his match fees and awarded one demerit point for controversially barging into the 19-year-old. WATCH VIDEO BELOW: Sam Konstas creates his perfect batter 🔥 Has he nailed it? — (@cricketcomau) June 24, 2025 Konstas further praised Cheteshwar Pujara and said, 'Pujara played a role in India's back-to-back Test series wins in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21. Pujara's performance in the 2018-19 series, especially the centuries in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, were important for India's success.' The Australian star also praised Australian great Steve Smith and said he is looking forward to batting with him on the West Indies tour, which begins on June 25. On Steve Smith, he said, 'He is the best in the world in my opinion and I am looking forward to batting with him in the coming days.'
