Yashasvi Jaiswal drops Ben Duckett on 98 — fourth drop of the match; steers clear of a furious Mohammed Siraj

When things aren't meant to happen, they just don’t. For 32 long overs on Day 5 of the first Test at Headingley, India kept pushing, searching desperately for a breakthrough. But nothing worked. There was no swing, no movement off the pitch—just frustration. England’s openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, were cruising, unbothered and in full control.

Then came the 39th over. Mohammed Siraj, who had been bowling his heart out, steamed in again. Fourth ball—a sharp bouncer. Duckett mistimed it badly, top-edging it towards deep square leg. It should’ve been the moment India finally broke through. Yashasvi Jaiswal was stationed there. He had a real chance—but the ball slipped through his fingers. Again.

Duckett was on 98 when the chance came. He made the most of the reprieve, not just reaching his century but also continuing to pile on the pressure. For India, it was a bitter pill to swallow.

Sanjay Manjrekar, calling the action, summed it up: “Just cruel fate playing out here. Jaiswal, not at gully this time, but at deep square leg—and it’s another drop. A tough one, yes, but that should’ve been taken. And it’s Siraj again—he’s starting to look seriously frustrated.”

“It’s nerves, more than anything,” another commentator chimed in. “When you keep dropping catches off a bowler like Siraj—who's been in red-hot form for quite a while now—it hurts. This was a big one. Duckett was the key wicket. That drop might just cost India.”

It was Jaiswal’s fourth drop of the match—three in the first innings and now this. The guilt was written all over his face. A brief pat of encouragement from Prasidh Krishna was all he got before he quietly returned to his position. Siraj, meanwhile, was fuming. His body language said it all—furious, disappointed, and tired of being let down. Jaiswal knew it too. He kept his distance.