ENG vs IND: Team India lost despite scoring five centuries in the Leeds Test match, created this shameful record

India suffered a disappointing defeat by five wickets in the Leeds Test match, the opening game of the five-match Test series against England. The match was played at the iconic Headingley ground in Leeds, where expectations were high from both sides. Despite putting up a strong batting performance and scoring five centuries across both innings, Team India failed to convert their efforts into a win. Instead, they ended up setting a record that no team would want to have – becoming the first side in Test cricket history to lose a match after scoring five individual centuries.

In the first innings, India batted brilliantly. Yashasvi Jaiswal got things going with a well-crafted century, scoring 101 runs. Following him, Shubman Gill showed his class by playing a brilliant knock of 147, while wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant added a strong 134. These three centuries helped India post a big total and gave them the upper hand early in the match. The batting lineup looked in full control, and fans believed that India had done enough to set the tone for a solid victory.

In the second innings, India continued their strong batting form. KL Rahul rose to the occasion and scored an impressive 137. Once again, Rishabh Pant delivered with the bat, scoring his second century of the match with a fluent 118. These two knocks further strengthened India’s grip on the game, at least on paper. Five individual centuries in one Test match is a rare feat and usually results in a win or at least a draw. However, despite these stellar performances, India’s efforts fell short.

This match will be remembered not just for the great centuries scored, but for the shocking outcome that followed. By losing this match despite scoring five centuries, India etched an unwanted record in Test history – becoming the first team ever to suffer a loss under such circumstances. This result has naturally sparked discussions around missed opportunities, poor decision-making, and underperformance in key areas beyond batting.

India’s defeat was not just about the numbers on the scoreboard. Captain Shubman Gill shared his thoughts after the game, expressing both pride and disappointment. He admitted, “I think it was a great Test match. We had chances, we dropped catches and our lower order did not contribute enough, but proud of the team and overall it was a good effort.” His comments highlighted key areas where the team fell short – particularly the fielding and contributions from the tail-enders. Dropped catches in crucial moments allowed England to gain momentum, and the lower-order batsmen’s inability to add runs significantly hurt India’s second innings.

Gill also reflected on the team’s mindset heading into the latter part of the game. “Yesterday we were thinking that we would score around 430 and declare the innings. Unfortunately, our last six wickets could only score 20-25 runs, which is never a good sign,” he added. This collapse in the lower order turned out to be one of the turning points of the match.

England’s openers gave them a strong start in the final innings, and even though India had moments where they looked in control, they couldn’t capitalize. Gill said, “Even today after their brilliant opening partnership, I felt that we still had a chance, but in this match, we could not go according to our plan.”

In conclusion, while India showed exceptional individual performances with the bat, cricket remains a team game where all departments need to perform together. Despite scoring five centuries, India's loss in the Leeds Test stands as a reminder that victories require more than just big scores – they demand consistency, sharp fielding, and depth in all areas of the game.