Team India faced a heartbreaking defeat against England in the Lord's Test, losing by 22 runs despite a valiant effort. The loss gave England a 2-1 lead in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series. Several factors contributed to India's downfall, snatching away a victory that seemed within reach.
1. Top-Order Collapse and Defensive Approach: India's top-order batsmen failed to provide a solid start in the crucial final innings, crumbling under pressure. Chasing a target of 193, the top order was dismissed cheaply at the end of the fourth day's play. Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Karun Nair couldn't convert their starts into substantial scores, leaving the middle order exposed. India's defensive mindset in the final innings allowed the English bowlers to dominate, with their shot selection proving costly. According to Shubman Gill, the top order did not perform well and the team needed at least one or two 50-run partnerships.
2. Rishabh Pant's Run-Out: Vice-captain Rishabh Pant, who had been in excellent form throughout the series, fell victim to an unnecessary run-out. Pant's attempt to steal a quick single resulted in a mix-up with KL Rahul, leading to his dismissal. At the time of Pant's dismissal, India were 248/4 in the first innings. KL Rahul admitted that Pant's wicket shifted the momentum in England's favor. Ben Stokes' brilliant one-handed pick-up and direct hit led to the vital breakthrough.
3. Extra Runs Conceded: The Indian bowlers' lack of discipline resulted in a staggering 63 extra runs conceded throughout the match. In the first innings, 31 extras were given away, followed by another 32 in the second. These included byes, leg byes, wides, and no-balls. In a low-scoring contest, these extra runs proved to be a significant setback for India.
4. KL Rahul's Dropped Catch: KL Rahul's dropped catch of Jamie Smith in the first innings proved costly. Smith, who was dropped at second slip when he was on 5, went on to score a valuable 51 off 56 balls. This allowed England to reach a competitive first-innings total. Mohammed Siraj's reaction showed the importance of the missed opportunity.
5. Middle and Lower Order Resistance, but Ultimately Insufficient: Ravindra Jadeja's valiant unbeaten 61 kept India's hopes alive, but he lacked sufficient support from the other end. Jadeja displayed great composure and grit, nearly pulling off an improbable victory with the lower order. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj showed resilience, but Shoaib Bashir eventually claimed the final wicket to seal England's victory. Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad believes India could not cope with the theatre of Test match cricket after losing four wickets in the morning session on Day 5.
In conclusion, India's defeat at Lord's was a result of a combination of factors, including a top-order collapse, a costly run-out, extra runs conceded, a dropped catch, and an inability to capitalize on promising positions. Despite the valiant effort from Jadeja and the lower order, England's relentless pressure and disciplined bowling ultimately secured their victory.