Former Selector Blasts India's Fielding Woes After Test Defeat to England

Kiran More, former Indian selector and wicketkeeper, has called for patience regarding the Indian Test team after their five-wicket defeat against England in the first Test at Headingley. He pinpointed fielding lapses as a crucial factor in the loss.

Yashasvi Jaiswal during the first Test match

"We played very well for four days," More stated to 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, gaining a 1-0 lead in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Ben Duckett led the charge with 149 runs, supported by Joe Root's unbeaten 53 and Jamie Smith's 44 not out. This victory marks England's second-highest successful chase ever, and their highest against India.

More reflected on India's performance, "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."

India's first innings saw them post 471, featuring centuries from Shubman Gill (147), Rishabh Pant (134), and Yashasvi Jaiswal (101). However, a sudden collapse saw them lose seven wickets for just 41 runs. England responded with 465, including notable contributions from Duckett (62), Ollie Pope (106), and Brook (99), with their final five wickets adding 189 runs.

In the second innings, India appeared to be in a strong position at 333/4, fueled by a 195-run partnership between Pant (118) and K.L. Rahul (137). However, they then suffered another collapse, losing six wickets for 31 runs and ultimately being dismissed for 364, setting England a target of 371.

More emphasized the need for patience. "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 went wicketless in the second innings. Prasidh Krishna's performance proved expensive, and the dropped catches, especially those of Harry Brook, significantly impacted India's chances.

More concluded, "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 the venue. This match also became only the third in Test history where all four innings exceeded 350 runs.