India’s shocking five-wicket loss to England in the first Test at Headingley has triggered strong reactions from former cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh. Despite scoring nearly 800 runs across both innings and recording five individual centuries, including two by Rishabh Pant, India failed to seal the match and surrendered a clear advantage.
From a strong position at 430 for 3 in the first innings and 287 for 3 in the second, India collapsed under pressure, thanks to dropped catches, misfields, and lackluster bowling spells in key moments. England capitalised brilliantly, turning the match into a memorable comeback and taking a 1-0 lead in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
Yuvraj Singh: Intense, Unforgiving, but Not the End
Yuvraj Singh, known for his fighting spirit, described the five-day contest as “intense, challenging and unforgiving.” He praised both teams for their effort and commended India’s young squad for showing grit, despite falling short. Sharing his thoughts on X, Yuvraj stressed that this defeat should not shake the team’s confidence.
“Test cricket at its finest. Five days of a high-quality game and a result that could’ve gone either way. Our young team showed fight and belief. Fell short, but far from done. The series is still alive,” Yuvraj posted.
Harbhajan Singh Calls for Urgent Change Ahead of 2nd Test
Meanwhile, Harbhajan Singh expressed concern about India’s team selection and stressed the need to include wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the second Test. He pointed out that Ravindra Jadeja found turn from the rough, but India lacked another attacking spin option.
Harbhajan believes Kuldeep can be that match-winner India needs, and suggested Shardul Thakur might be the one to make way.
“India should consider playing Kuldeep Yadav. He gives more wicket-taking options. Shardul deserves a proper chance, but if he’s seen only as a batter who bowls a bit, that’s not fair. He is a bowler who can bat,” Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel.
A Missed Opportunity in English Conditions
The former spinner also noted that India might regret losing this match after scoring 450 in the first innings. He called it a missed opportunity in a series where every match counts and warned that winning in England is never easy, even for strong teams.
With six days to go before the second Test at Edgbaston, all eyes will be on how the Indian team bounces back. The pressure is mounting, and both strategic changes and mental resilience will be key if India hopes to level the series.
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