Former BCCI President Sourav Ganguly called out Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir’s tactical blunders during India vs England Leeds Test. Day 2 of the first India vs England Test at Headingley had it all, from Rishabh Pant’s fireworks, a cartwheel celebration, Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliance, and a stunning collapse.
After dominating on Day 1, India looked set to pile on the misery for England and possibly reach the 600-run mark, but they suffered a dramatic collapse that left the legendary Sourav Ganguly concerned.
India began Day 2 in firm control. Pant dazzled with his century and even celebrated it in style with a flip that had the crowd roaring.
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And the former BCCI president has pointed out that the conditions looked surprisingly dry for Headingley, and it was a perfect platform for the tourists to post a mammoth total against England in the first innings.
Sourav Ganguly concerned as Shubman Gill-led India let big chance slip at Headingley
However, after Shubman Gill’s dismissal after a superb 147, things turned quickly. The Indian cricket team lost their last seven wickets for just 41 runs and were bowled out for 471. The English bowlers’ lengths were better, and the energy was up on Day 2, and they made the most of India’s sudden dip.
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Watching all this unfold, Ganguly felt that the Indian cricket team missed a golden opportunity in the five-match Test series opener. The former Indian captain has pointed out that on such a dry Headingley pitch, 600 would have put England in deep trouble as the surface began to deteriorate.
The former BCCI president also stressed that winning the first Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test is crucial for the young captain Shubman Gill and his team. Sourav Ganguly was quoted as saying by PTI, “Nobody expects Headingley to be so dry. But what will happen is, if they get 600, it starts getting a bit up and down. India must win this. They won’t get this opportunity again.”
Jasprit Bumrah left alone in battle with England
In reply to India’s 471, Jasprit Bumrah struck early to remove Zak Crawley and immediately put the hosts on the back foot. But then the fielders let Bumrah down badly, as Ben Duckett was dropped twice and made India pay with a stunning fifty before the pacer eventually sent him packing.
As the ball softened and the pitch eased up, Ollie Pope smashed another impressive hundred. Bumrah managed to get rid of Joe Root, but no-balls saved England twice in the final over, adding to India’s frustration. By stumps, England had made their way to 209/3.
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On Day 2, all three wickets were taken by Bumrah, while the rest of the Indian bowling attack, featuring Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, and Shardul Thakur, failed to support their lead pacer, leaking runs and missing out on chances against England at Headingley.
Sourav Ganguly questions Arshdeep Singh’s snub in Leeds
Reacting to the bowling show, the former skipper also questioned the head coach Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill’s selection decisions. Ganguly felt that left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh would have been a better choice than Prasidh Krishna, offering a different angle and variation.
Sourav also suggested that Kuldeep Yadav’s time would come later in the ongoing five-match Test series. He noted, “Kuldeep will play slowly. It’s a long series. I would have played Arsh. Because of a different angle (for being a left-armer). But it’s okay. They’re good.”
Sourav Ganguly refuses to predict result for India vs England Test series
Furthermore, Ganguly noticed England bowlers’ tendency to bowl too short, especially to Shubman Gill, but felt that they would learn quickly as the series progressed.
The legendary cricketer added, “They bowl too short, actually. Halfway through yesterday, they were bowling only short to Shubman Gill. But it’s okay. They’ll learn. It’s just the first test.”
But he refrained from making any prediction for the ongoing Test series. Ganguly signed off by saying, “It’s too early to say.”
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