India’s tail-end, along with Ravindra Jadeja, battled hard for 45 overs on Day 5, but a top-order collapse cost them the 3rd Test at Lord’s, as they fell short by 22 runs.
India’s Middle-Order Collapse Derails Day 5 Chase at Lord’s
India lost four wickets in the first session, a first in the series, starting with Rishabh Pant, who was dismissed for 9(12). Pant, expected to be a key figure in the chase alongside KL Rahul, was the first to go.
Rahul followed soon after for 39(58), and Washington Sundar managed only a 4-ball duck. Nitish Kumar Reddy showed some resistance but was eventually dismissed for 13(53), leaving India at 41/4 in the morning session.
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Jadeja Fights, But Tail-End Resistance Falls Short at Lord’s
With the middle order collapsing, the pressure shifted to the lower order. Ravindra Jadeja stood tall, finishing unbeaten on 61* off 181 balls. He found gritty support in Jasprit Bumrah, who scored 5 from 53 deliveries, facing nearly 90 balls in a determined partnership. That stand was broken when Ben Stokes dismissed Bumrah with a short-pitched delivery.
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Mohammed Siraj came in with a clear intention to hang in and support Jadeja until the end. He soaked up pressure, took a few blows, and survived long enough to offer hope. But in the end, Siraj was bowled by Shoaib Bashir in an unfortunate dismissal, handing England a 22-run victory and the series lead at Lord’s.
Gavaskar Slams Lack of Partnerships, Applauds Jadeja’s Grit
Speaking after the match on Sony Sports, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar criticized India’s inability to form crucial partnerships during the chase.
"A partnership of 60-70 would have made a difference. India never got that," Gavaskar said.
However, he praised Jadeja for his effort and calculated aggression.
"You could say that Jadeja could have taken the odd chance and not necessarily the aerial route when Joe Root and Shoaib Bashir were bowling. But full marks to him (Jadeja)," he added.
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Ben Stokes emerged as the true game-changer in this Test. Despite returning from injury, he bowled nine consecutive overs in the second innings and picked up three key wickets. For his all-round effort and leadership, he was named Player of the Match, guiding England to a memorable win at Lord’s.
