What Went Wrong in India's Defeat? Kiran More's Take on Missed Opportunities

Mumbai, June 25 (NationPress) Former India wicketkeeper and selector Kiran More has urged fans to exercise patience with the current Indian Test squad following their agonizing five-wicket defeat against England in the opening Test at Headingley. However, he was forthright about the critical issue: fielding.

“We performed admirably for four days,” More told IANS. “The turning point came on the final day when England showcased remarkable cricket. Our fielding faltered. Those were straightforward catches — typically, no one misses those — and that was the decisive factor.”

This evaluation followed England's exhilarating fourth-innings chase, marking one of the most remarkable comebacks in Test history, as they successfully chased down a daunting 371-run target on the last day, thus taking a 1-0 lead in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. The victory, fueled by Ben Duckett’s brilliant 149 and bolstered by Joe Root’s unbroken 53, along with debutant Jamie Smith’s composed 44 not out, represents England's second-largest successful chase ever, and the highest against India.

While acknowledging the promising aspects of India’s performance throughout the Test, More conceded that the team fell short during crucial moments. “In the initial two days, we were impressive, and I believed we could have added another 100–150 runs to our total. Had we reached 450 in the first innings, the outcome might have differed,” he remarked. “Rishabh and KL Rahul performed commendably in the second innings. However, we again collapsed at pivotal moments.”

India, after scoring 471 in the first innings with centuries from Shubman Gill (147), Rishabh Pant (134), and Yashasvi Jaiswal (101), squandered a dominant position by losing seven wickets for just 41 runs. England, led by Duckett (62), Ollie Pope (106), and Brook (99), managed to score 465, with the last five wickets adding 189 runs — a crucial phase that shifted the momentum.

In the second innings, a 195-run partnership between Pant (118) and K.L. Rahul (137) once again placed India in a commanding position at 333/4. Yet, in a recurring theme, the team lost six wickets for a mere 31 runs, concluding at 364 and setting England a target of 371 in the fourth innings.

More refrained from criticizing individual players, focusing instead on the broader context. “We possess a well-balanced team, but this squad is still evolving. I believe we need to provide them time — about a year — to establish themselves, discover the right combination, and develop into a formidable unit,” he stated. “We’ve accumulated over 750 runs across both innings, indicating strong batting. However, we cannot rely solely on Bumrah. He requires support — particularly from the spinners.”

Indeed, while Jasprit Bumrah bowled relentlessly, he ended the second innings without a wicket. Prasidh Krishna was expensive, and India’s fielding blunders afforded England crucial opportunities, especially Harry Brook, who was dropped several times en route to his 99.

More called for confidence in the team and a long-term strategy. “We’ve seen it before — from Gavaskar and Kapil Dev to Sachin, Kohli, and Rohit. Now it’s time for new players to rise. They require time and backing,” he emphasized. “If we continue playing this way and repeating the same errors, we won't progress. But if we give this group time, we’ll cultivate a strong team.”

England’s successful chase, marking the third occurrence of chasing over 350 at Headingley, adds another chapter to the venue’s rich legacy. This match is notable as it is only the third instance in Test history where all four innings exceeded 350 runs.