Former Team India head coach and celebrated cricketer Ravi Shastri feels India’s five-wicket defeat to England in the opening Test at Headingley is an incredibly “tough pill to swallow.” This match marked the dawn of a new era for India under the guidance of head coach Gautam Gambhir, as they stepped onto the field without their batting stalwarts, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Shubman Gill embraced the captaincy, leading India into this fresh chapter, which began with the challenging Test at Headingley.
The initial days of the opening Test offered considerable promise. Even without their key batsmen, India managed to dominate England for a significant four-day period. However, the momentum dramatically shifted against India at a crucial juncture, primarily due to missed catching opportunities and two collapses by the tail-enders. England, renowned for their successful chases, capitalised on these missteps, achieving a 371-run target to secure a 1-0 lead in the series.
Reflecting on the outcome, Ravi Shastri shared his perspective on Sky Sports, stating, “This will be a tough pill for India to swallow. You don’t get in positions like this very often, and blow it from there. They had a chance to take England out of the contest and dictate terms. They have to learn and they need more bottle from the tail, for them to be stubborn and put a price tag on their wicket.”
Shastri is damn correct, isn’t he?
