KKN Gurugram Desk | Under the leadership of Shubman Gill, Team India made an impressive start to their tour of England. In the ongoing first Test match at Headingley, Leeds, three Indian players, including the captain Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant, scored centuries. Despite these stellar individual performances, India could only manage 471 runs on the board before being bowled out, setting an unfortunate world record.

India now holds the dubious distinction of being the team with the lowest score after three players scored centuries in the same innings. This marks a record that was previously held by South Africa, who set it in 2016. Despite the remarkable centuries by Gill, Jaiswal, and Pant, India’s inability to build on these innings has led them to an embarrassing feat.

India’s Total: A Disappointing 471 Runs

On the first day of the Test, India had shown great promise, with their top-order batsmen making solid contributions. The team started strong, with the captain, Shubman Gill, leading from the front. He scored an impressive 147 runs, while Rishabh Pant followed with 134, and Yashasvi Jaiswal contributed with 101. With three players crossing the 100-run mark, it seemed like India would post a massive total. However, despite the centuries, India failed to reach the 500-run mark, and the entire team was dismissed for just 471 runs.

This set a new record for the fewest runs scored by a team after having three players score centuries. This record previously stood at 475 runs, set by South Africa in their 2016 Test match against England in Centurion. Other teams that had failed to cross the 500-run mark after three centuries include Australia (494 runs, Headingley, 1924) and the West Indies (497 runs, Kolkata, 2002).

A Tale of Missed Opportunities

India’s batting collapse came after a strong start, which was led by Gill, Pant, and Jaiswal’s centuries. The day started with India at 359/3, with both Jaiswal and Gill in excellent form. The team seemed poised to post a formidable total, especially after crossing 430 runs with just three wickets down. However, things took a turn when captain Gill was dismissed. Following his departure, the entire batting order collapsed, and India was all out for 471 runs.

The collapse can be attributed to key contributions from England’s bowlers, Ben Stokes and Tong, who each took 4 wickets. Their efforts ensured that India’s promising innings came to a premature end. Despite having three centuries on the board, the Indian team could not capitalize on these individual feats to reach a more competitive total.

England’s Response: Ollie Pope Shines

Despite India’s impressive start with the bat, England fought back strongly in their response. On the second day of the Test, the hosts managed to reduce India’s lead to 262 runs, with India still having the advantage. Ollie Pope, who had been in excellent form, continued his strong performance by scoring his second consecutive Test century. Pope’s unbeaten 100 runs, coupled with a solid batting display from the rest of the English team, put them in a good position to reduce India’s lead further.

By the close of play on Day 2, England had reached 209/3, with Pope still at the crease. Jasprit Bumrah, who has been India’s standout bowler, took all three of England’s wickets in the innings. This was a remarkable achievement for Bumrah, who continues to lead India’s bowling attack with skill and precision.

India’s Bowling Strength and the 262-Run Lead

With India setting a total of 471 runs and England responding with 209/3, India still holds a strong 262-run lead at the end of Day 2. Bumrah’s three wickets have given India a substantial advantage, but they will need to build on this lead with further tight bowling in the upcoming days. The team will be hoping to capitalize on England’s vulnerable lower order and take a commanding position in the match.

India’s chances of maintaining their lead will depend heavily on their ability to break the partnership between Pope and the other English batsmen. If India can take quick wickets in the early stages of Day 3, they will have a significant chance of putting England under pressure and pushing for a victory.

The Bigger Picture: India’s Inconsistent Batting

While individual performances from Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant were stellar, the team’s overall batting performance has once again been inconsistent. The inability to convert a good start into a massive total is becoming a recurring issue for India. Despite having three centurions, the team failed to capitalize on their strong positions and were dismissed for a relatively low total.

This collapse after having three centuries is a reminder of the challenges India faces in Test cricket. The ability to build partnerships and bat through sessions is crucial in Test cricket, and India’s failure to do so has cost them dearly in this match.

Looking Ahead: Can India Maintain Their Lead?

India still has a significant lead of 262 runs over England, and the team will need to capitalize on this advantage in the coming days. The performance of their bowlers, especially Jasprit Bumrah, will be key in maintaining the pressure on England. India will need to break the partnership between Ollie Pope and the other English batsmen early on Day 3.

For India to build on this lead, they must focus on tightening their bowling attack and ensuring that they do not allow England to get away with easy runs. A few quick breakthroughs early in the innings could set the tone for the rest of the match.

India’s performance in the first Test against England has been a mix of individual brilliance and team disappointment. While the centuries from Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant were exceptional, the team’s inability to convert these performances into a higher total has resulted in a historic but unfortunate record.

With a lead of 262 runs at the end of Day 2, India still has a strong chance of taking control of the match, but they will need to be at their best with both bat and ball in the coming days. The team’s ability to build partnerships with the bat and maintain consistent pressure with the ball will determine whether they can secure a victory in this Test.