Former India opener and outspoken analyst Navjot Singh Sidhu has weighed in on the composition and strategy of India’s playing XI following their crushing defeat in the first Test against England at Headingley. While Sidhu initially backed the team’s selection ahead of the series, he didn’t hold back after the loss, voicing his concerns with what he sees as a recurring issue in India’s overseas Test approach.
Sidhu, unlike many others, refrained from criticizing individual selections such as Shardul Thakur. Instead, he pointed to a deeper concern: India’s persistent fear of batting collapses, which often forces the management to load the side with batting depth at the cost of bowling potency. According to Sidhu, this defensive mindset is what continues to hurt India in key overseas Tests.
The former cricketer highlighted how India, on multiple occasions—including the Sydney Test against Australia—have misused all-rounders like Washington Sundar. Despite Sundar’s ability to be an effective spinner in all conditions, Sidhu believes India often hesitates to use such players as genuine bowling options. The same pattern, he said, repeated with Shardul Thakur at Headingley.
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Sidhu praised England’s aggressive and balanced team selection, pointing out their fearless brand of cricket that allows them to maintain depth in both departments. “England play without fear, and that’s why they can afford to strike the right balance. India, on the other hand, continue to play with the fear of collapse,” Sidhu said during a discussion on Star Sports.
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Despite the criticism, Sidhu acknowledged the strong performances of several Indian batters. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal both struck memorable centuries in the first Test, while captain Shubman Gill led by example with hundreds in back-to-back matches at Leeds and Edgbaston—his first two Test centuries in SENA countries.
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Rishabh Pant also delivered a historic performance, becoming only the second wicketkeeper in Test history to score twin centuries in a match. While the top and middle order looked solid, India’s fragile lower-order batting and lack of wicket-taking variety remain key concerns moving forward in the series.
