India’s bowling in the first Test match against England may have left a lot to be desired, but head coach Gautam Gambhir has requested critics to give the inexperienced pace attack more time to begin with.

Except Jasprit Bumrah, who got five wickets in England’s first innings, none of the other bowlers looked impressive as the hosts chased down a target of 371 quite comfortably on the final day of the match on Tuesday. India’s pace battery of Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur did not bowl consistently, with their line and length often going off the mark.

“We will have to give them time. Earlier, we used to have four fast bowlers with an experience of more than 40 Tests. It doesn’t make such a big impact in one-day or T20 matches, but when you go to Australia, England or South Africa for Tests, experience matters,” said Gambhir after India’s defeat.

“These are early days. If we start judging our bowlers after every Test, how will we develop a bowling attack? Outside Bumrah and Siraj, we don’t have that much experience, but the others have quality, which is why they are in this dressing room. But we have got to keep backing them because it’s about building a fast-bowler battery that can serve India for a long time,” the India head coach said.

Arshdeep Singh is also part of the squad, but he is yet to a play in Tests. Harshit Rana, on the other hand, has played only two games. Gambhir said Prasidh, who got five wickets despite proving expensive, has “all the ingredients of becoming a very good Test match bowler”.

He also vouched for Shardul Thakur, who bowled just 16 overs in the entire match, including six overs in the first innings. “We know what is Shardul’s quality and that is why he is playing for India. Just because he is the fourth seamer does not necessarily mean that he has to be brought ahead of a spinner. A captain goes by instinct and the surface they play on,” said Gambhir.

‘Happy with Gill’s debut as captain’

On the leadership front, Gambhir said captain Shubman Gill would only get better with the passage of time. “Look, first Test match, obviously, there are nerves. Not many people get that opportunity, and he was phenomenal. More importantly, I think the way he batted in the first innings. I’m sure he would have had his own nerves being the captain for the first time and then getting the hundred. He has everything that it takes to be a successful captain, but we have got to just give him time. It’s still very early,” he said.

No change of plans for Bumrah

Gambhir said the team management would not push pacer Jasprit Bumrah beyond more than three Tests against England despite India’s defeat loss in the opening match of the series. Bumrah was the only bowler who consistently troubled England batsmen at Headingley.

“No, we won’t change the plans. For us to manage his workload is more important because there’s a lot of cricket going forward and we know what he brings on the table as well. Before he came on the show, it was already decided that he’s going to play three Test matches,” said Gambhir.

He said the team is yet to decide which two games Bumrah will play in the remaining four matches of the series. “Even without Bumrah, we absolutely have the bowling attack to compete,” he added.