Ravindra Jadeja took India to the brink of a surprise win on the last day of the third Test at Lord’s, but the home side kept their cool to win by 22 runs. With determined support from the tailenders Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, England repelled India in a nervy finish and moved ahead 2-1 in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
The Day 5 drama started with Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer sending Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul, two of India’s most important batters, back to the pavilion. Chris Woakes hit a significant blow by sending Nitish Kumar Reddy back just before lunch, while Washington Sundar had already been bowled out by Archer in the session.
India’s Prudent Chase Comes Up Short
Requiring 193 to win, India opted for a defensive and conservative strategy in the fourth innings. Their hesitant choice of shots gave England’s bowlers the upper hand. Archer and Stokes alone accounted for six wickets in the second innings. Though Jadeja kept the dream alive and Rahul added with a gritty 39, India didn’t have collective resistance as England’s pace attack exerted relentless pressure.
Pant’s Run-Out Shifted Momentum
Rishabh Pant, who had scored a well-made 74 in the first innings, was run out unnecessarily because of a mix-up with Rahul. The fall, which happened when India were at 248/4, proved to be a game-changer.
“Momentum had shifted at that time when Pant was lost,” conceded KL Rahul after the match.
Top-Order and Nightwatchman Strategy Misfire
India’s highest order struggled across the two innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal couldn’t do much, scoring 13 and 0, and Karun Nair again couldn’t capitalize on his starts. Leverage of Akash Deep as a nightwatchman proved to be of no use, and the strategy failed in a pivotal moment of the game.
Jamie Smith’s Let-Off Proves Costly
During the first innings, India lost an important opportunity when Jamie Smith was dropped by KL Rahul. The let-off came costly as Smith scored 51 off 56 balls to propel England from 265/5 to 355/7, frustrating Indian bowlers and altering momentum.
Extras Add to India’s Woes
India’s bowlers provided England with 63 extras in both innings — 31 in the first and 32 in the second. These extra runs were crucial in such a closely fought match and helped substantially in contributing to the narrow margin of loss.
In spite of Jadeja’s gritty late fight and a thriller fifth day, India were unable to escape defeat. England now lead 2-1 going into the last two games of the series. India will have to reassemble themselves and rethink strategies, particularly their game plan for pressure chases and defining moments in the game.
