Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri believes the opening Test loss against England is a tough pill to swallow for India. The visitors were in a shoo-in position for the majority of the first Test but they failed to capitalise on the advantage and suffered a five-wicket loss.

India dropped as many as eight catches in the opening Test, which proved costly for them. Furthermore, the tourists suffered two batting collapses, which added salt to the wound. India lost 7-41 in the first innings and could only manage 471 runs on the board after they were looking all set to post 550 runs on the board at one stage. 

Moreover, Gill’s team lost last six wickets for only 31 runs in the second innings and gave a target of 371 to England, when a target of 450 was looking possible.

“This will be a tough pill for India to swallow. You don’t get in positions like this very often, and blow it from there. They had a chance to take England out of the contest and dictate terms. They have to learn and they need more bottle from the tail, for them to be stubborn and put a price tag on their wicket,” Shastri was quoted as saying on Sky Sports.

Shastri noted that Gill impressed in his maiden Test as a captain as he got the runs with the bat but said drop catches and collapses are beyond his control. Gill scored a fine knock of 147 runs in the first innings and led decently in his maiden game as captain.

“There is a big role for the coaching staff to take the positives. As a captain, Gill has done more than can be asked of him. He got a hundred in his first Test in charge, and the dropped catches [and collapses] are not in his control,” he added.

The second Test match between India and England will be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham from July 2nd onwards.