Rishabh Pant.
PTI
Right after Mohammed Siraj was bowled by an innocuous delivery from England’s Shoaib Bashir, the disappointment was evident on the faces of the Indians in the third Test at Lord’s. Siraj, who had put up a spirited defence for little over an hour for the final wicket, squatted in agony, non-striker Ravindra Jadeja looked heavenwards almost expressionless while coach Gautam Gambhir, seated in the balcony, was sullen-faced following the 22‑run defeat.
Even after the English players parted and praised Siraj and Jadeja for their valiant efforts — the duo needed to forge a 46‑run partnership for the final wicket to pull off an incredible victory — it took a while for Jadeja and Siraj to compose themselves. Siraj berated himself continuously and even punched his bat repeatedly while Jadeja barely spoke a word, the southpaw devastated despite his gritty 181‑ball 61 as India went down 1‑2. While Jadeja and Siraj gave it their all, the team is to be blamed in total for having squandered a great opportunity to go 2‑1 ahead. In fact, had India seized their moments in the series opener at Headingley, they would have taken an unassailable 3‑0 and become just the fourth from the country to post a series win at Old Blighty.
Rishabh Pant’s run‑out, with India in a position to bat England out of the third Test, turned the game around. Such errors have been symptomatic to India’s campaign in the series.
• India lost KL Rahul (42) on the penultimate ball before lunch. From 91/1, India slipped to 92/2, as Sai Sudharsan lasted five balls after lunch.
• Yashasvi Jaiswal (101) was dismissed in the second over after tea.
• On the second day, from 430/4, India collapsed to 471 all out.
• In the second innings, lost Rishabh Pant (118) just 20 balls before tea on the fourth day. Then slipped from 333/5 to 364 all out.
• In the first innings, KL Rahul perished for 42 in the penultimate ball before lunch, going for an expansive drive and edging to first slip. Then debutant Sai Sudharsan departed five balls into the second session as India slipped to 92/2. India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal (101) in the second over after tea but those dismissals didn’t affect them much as they took stumps at a commanding 355/3. The horrors of the second day, though, cast them the Test. Cruising along nicely, Gill fell against the spin for 147 and from 430/4, India slumped to 471 all out.
• The pattern ensued in the second innings too with Pant (118) gifting away his wicket just 20 balls before tea on the fourth day. Rahul then fell following a superb 137 and from 333/5, India slipped to 364 all out. India should have set England a target in excess of 450 but mistakes after dominating the series for most parts have been India’s undoing.