India etched an unwanted record in Test cricket history, becoming the first team ever to lose a match despite five of its batters scoring centuries. Until now, no side had suffered defeat with more than four individual hundreds — a feat last witnessed when Australia lost to England at the MCG in 1928.
This latest statistical anomaly came at Headingley, where England pulled off a stunning chase of 371 on a gripping final day to go 1-0 up in the series. The architect of the triumph was Ben Duckett, whose blistering 149 anchored the chase and set the tone for one of the format’s greatest comebacks.
Duckett shared a 188-run opening stand with Zak Crawley, who contributed a composed 65. Both batters enjoyed slices of fortune — Crawley was dropped on 42, Duckett on 97 — but made India pay for its lapses in the field.
With momentum firmly in England’s favour, India must regroup quickly. Selection calls will be crucial for the Edgbaston Test, especially with wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav waiting in the wings.