On this day, August 25, 2021: It was one of the toughest days for Indian cricket. On a cloudy morning in Leeds, Virat Kohli won the toss and chose to bat in the third Test of the series against England. What followed in the next three hours remains one of the most shocking batting collapses in modern Indian Test history. Headingley has always been a ground that helps seam bowling when the skies are grey. England’s attack put pressure early. James Anderson, the master of English conditions, struck in his first over. KL Rahul edged to Jos Buttler for a duck. Cheteshwar Pujara lasted only nine balls before nicking and getting dismissed. Kohli himself fell for 7, driving loosely and finding the edge once more.
In the first 11 overs, India were 21 for 3. The middle order offered very little resistance. Ajinkya Rahane managed 18 before Robinson found his edge. Rishabh Pant was dismissed for 2. Rohit Sharma was the only one to show some courage, he battled for 105 balls but could not convert his 19 into anything substantial. When Craig Overton and Sam Curran cleaned up the lower order, India had been dismissed for 78 in just 40.4 overs. Extras finished as the second-highest scorer with 16.
It was India’s lowest first-innings total away from home in Test cricket. The scoreboard was one to forget with five batsmen in single figures, no partnership and a collective inability to handle the swinging and seaming ball under overcast skies. Anderson finished with 3 for 6 from eight overs. Robinson claimed 2 for 16. Overton took 3 for 14. The home seamers barely needed to break a sweat.
By the end of play, England’s openers had made the scoreline look even more one-sided. Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed negotiated the remaining overs, ending the day at 120 without loss. The lead was already 42. Over the next three days England went on to score 432 and then bowl India out a second time for 278, winning by an innings and 76 runs to level the series 1-1. The collapse remains one of the toughest ones for the Indian cricket team and fans.
