England emerged victorious in the first Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Leeds by successfully chasing a challenging target of 371 runs on the final day. Ben Duckett’s commanding 149 runs anchored England’s chase, complemented by a strong opening partnership with Zak Crawley. India’s batsmen produced a collective effort with over 800 runs scored across two innings, including four centuries and a five-wicket haul by Jasprit Bumrah. However, England’s aggressive and fearless approach, popularly known as “Bazball,” helped them overturn the daunting target and take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Shubman Gill’s debut as India’s Test captain showed promise but was overshadowed by the team’s recurring weaknesses. The Indian bowling attack leaned heavily on Bumrah, who lacked adequate support from fellow pacers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, both of whom struggled to contain the English batsmen. The team’s strategy of relying on just one specialist spinner and an all-rounder, Shardul Thakur, did not pay off, as Thakur was unable to consistently make an impact. Fielding lapses and fragile lower-order batting further hurt India, with key wickets lost cheaply, preventing them from setting an insurmountable target.

England’s bowling unit, despite missing senior players due to injury, showed resilience and control. Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse took crucial wickets while maintaining tight lines, helping to keep India’s scoring in check. Ben Stokes led from the front with vital breakthroughs, and Joe Root guided the chase with composure. As the teams prepare for the second Test in Birmingham starting July 2, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir faces increasing pressure to address these persistent issues and help his young squad regroup against a confident England side.