 "India's twin collapses at Headingley raise serious questions despite top-order brilliance")
Team India’s batters showed moments of brilliance in both innings of the first Test against England at Headingley, but two sudden collapses left fans scratching their heads. Despite centuries from KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, India threw away dominant positions with dramatic batting collapses on two occasions.
From 430/3 to 471 all-out in first innings
In the first innings, India were cruising at 430/3 with Pant and Gill looking unstoppable and Jaiswal having already scored a ton. At that stage, it looked like India could get past 550 or even 600. But what followed was a shocking collapse. The last seven wickets fell for just 41 runs and India were bowled out for 471. These included the wickets of recognised batters like Karun Nair and Ravindra Jadeja.
It became the lowest all-out total in Test history where three different batters scored centuries. No team has ever been bowled out under 500 after being 430/3 in a Test match. The collapse also meant India missed a chance to put the game completely out of England’s reach. England responded brilliantly with the bat after that, cancelling out India’s first innings lead.
From 287/4 to 364 all-out in second innings
The second innings wasn’t much different. Rishabh Pant scored another sensational hundred, his second of the match, and KL Rahul also brought up a ton to help India take their lead close to 300. India were comfortably placed at 287/3 at one point. But again, they lost their last 6 wickets for just 77 runs, going from 287/4 to 364 all-out.
England’s bowlers, especially Josh Tongue, caused the collapse with his three-wicket maiden over. It is clear that India’s middle and lower orders haven’t been able to support the top-order brilliance. The latest collapse has given England a chance in a match they were nearly out of after a brilliant post-lunch session from Pant and Rahul on Day 4.
The Indian team management will have to seriously look into this and make the necessary adjustments, because if this continues, India will have a tough time in England in the coming Tests. India will now have a go at England with just 30 minutes left before the close of play. They will have a full day tomorrow to bowl England out and win the match. England need 371 runs to win.
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
