England star Joe Root was left visibly gutted when his side conceded five penalty runs due to a little-known rule in the first Test against India.

The hosts are taking on India in a five-match Test series, with the opening game starting at Headingley on Friday.

Test captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bowl, which looked to be a poor decision with India racing off to an excellent start.

The hosts did manage to get two wickets, bringing new skipper Shubman Gill to the crease to partner Yashavi Jaiswal.

And it was an incident involving Jaiswal that left former England captain Root with his hands to his head.

The opening batter slashed at a delivery from Stokes that went down in the slip cordon through a combination of Harry Brook and Root.

It then deflected off Root‘s hand and rolled into the helmet.

Gill and Jaiswal didn’t even complete a run, so you would think there was no damage done.

However, there is a little-known rule that cost England five penalty runs.

The 1798 Laws of Cricket state under section 28 that five runs are awarded to the batting team if the ball strikes the wicketkeeper’s – or the fielder’s helmet – while on the field.

This isn’t something that happens very often, and there is no reason given for why it is five penalty runs.

But five runs in cricket is very unusual, and on this occasion, it has punished England.

Root couldn't believe what happened

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Root couldn’t believe what happenedHe failed to hide his disappointment at Headingley

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He failed to hide his disappointment at HeadingleyCredit: Sky SportsEngland's captain Ben Stokes embraces England's Joe Root as he celebrates taking the wicket of India's Yashasvi Jaiswal on the opening day of the first cricket test match between England and India at Headingley cricket ground in Leeds, northern England on June 20, 2025. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO ASSOCIATION WITH DIRECT COMPETITOR OF SPONSOR, PARTNER, OR SUPPLIER OF THE ECB (Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)

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Root earlier claimed a catch in the slips to remove KL RahulCredit: Getty

It was an incident that has summed up a tough day for the hosts.

Presented with a dry wicket and clear skies, Stokes decided his team would bowl first.

Looking at the conditions, this seemed an odd choice, but the statistics at Headingley indicate teams who bowl first win.

KL Rahul and Jaiswal took advantage of the good conditions and poor bowling to get to 91 before Rahul sliced a Brydon Carse delivery to Root in the slips.

Stokes then managed to nab debutant Sai Sudharsan inside his first over in Test cricket.

But Jaiswal and Gill combined brilliantly, with the former getting his first century in England before Stokes clean bowled him.