Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has picked Rishabh Pant’s dismissal in the first innings and Karun Nair’s wicket in the second essay as the key moments that tilted the third Test at Lord’s in England’s favour.
England registered a slim 22-run win to go 2-1 up in the five-match collection, bowling India out for 170 in the chase of 193.
“The turning point for me in this Test match was, first of all, Rishabh Pant’s dismissal (in the first innings),” Shastri stated on ‘The ICC Review‘.
Shastri lauded England captain Ben Stokes’ “presence of mind” to impact Pant’s run out on 74 at the stroke of lunch on Day 3, which gave his aspect a foothold.
“Ben Stokes…simply outstanding presence of mind to hit at the right end and pull it off on the stroke of lunch. Because India would have got a lead and they were in the driver’s seat,” he added.
Karun and KL Rahul had taken India to 41 for one in the second innings on the fourth day, however the former supplied no shot to a supply from pacer Brydon Carse to be adjudged leg earlier than.
It gave England a gap and India slumped to 82 for seven from 42 for two handy the benefit to the hosts. Shastri stated Karun suffered from “huge lapse of concentration.” “Having said that, again at 40/1 (in the second innings), I thought that was a huge lapse in concentration from Karun Nair to leave a straight ball, a nothing ball, to leave it and open the door for England. I thought that the timing of that dismissal turned things around.” The former India skipper additionally opined that the Indian top-order ought to have proven slightly extra prudence in the second innings.
“Because you saw when Siraj batted, when Bumrah batted, when Jadeja was batting, once the ball was 40 overs old, they hardly put a foot wrong.
“They had been stable in defence and to carry that focus on down at lunch, 82 to get, you thought in the subsequent 10 minutes it could be executed and dusted. But to carry that 82 or 83 to 22 was an enormous achievement.
“So, it just goes to show that (if) the top order had just been a little tougher and mentally stronger on Day 4, towards the end, this game would have been India’s,” he added.
Shastri stated India has the wherewithal to bounce again into the collection, however rued the indisputable fact that the guests would have been up 3-0 had the rub of inexperienced gone their approach.
“It (the Lord’s Test) reminded me so much of the Test match in 2021 (at the Lord’s when Shastri was the head coach). Only on that occasion, it was India who batted first. Scores were very similar, 300, 300 and then a collapse in the second innings. At that time, India won.” This time it was England.
“But a fascinating series and two more to go. Anything can happen. India can bounce back straight away and if that happens, The Oval (final Test) will be a thriller,” he famous.
“Fifteen days in the series, it’s been riveting stuff. And at times, I think India could have been 3-0 up. A little bit of luck, India could have been 3-0 up.” The fourth Test between the two sides will start at Manchester on July 23.
However, Shastri was beneficiant in his reward of England and their captain Stokes.
“You have to compliment England. When the going got tough, those moments they seized. And when they saw an opening in the door, they just banged their door down.
“There was hardly something on that floor, and in case you had misplaced two wickets much less the earlier day I believe India would have chased that down,” he stated.
Chasing 193, India closed the Day 4 of the third Test at a wobbly 58 for 4.
Moving onto the giant-willed Stokes, Shastri stated: “Stokes bowling those spells, I knew something was coming at Edgbaston (second Test) because he had something back there.
“He wanted fuel in the tank for Lord’s and he showed it on the last day. Eight overs, nine-over spells. At one stage, 10 overs towards the end to clinch it for England,” he stated.
Stokes bowled 24 overs, greater than every other England bowler in the Test, and picked up three wickets together with the very important one in all Rahul.
