ENG vs IND: Ravi Shastri points out two crucial reasons behind India’s heartbreaking defeat at Lord’s

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India’s narrow defeat against England at the iconic Lord’s has triggered a wave of reactions from the cricketing fraternity. Among the many voices, one that stands out is that of former India coach and one of the most respected commentators in the game, Ravi Shastri. Weighing in on the heartbreaking loss, Shastri pointed to the key reasons behind India’s dramatic collapse in a match that once looked firmly within their grasp.

Speaking to Sanjana Ganesan on The ICC Review, Shastri identified Rishabh Pant’s dismissal in the first innings as the turning point of the match. He highlighted Ben Stokes’ brilliant presence of mind to effect the run-out at the stroke of lunch, a moment that shifted momentum. According to Shastri, India were in a dominant position and could have taken a crucial lead if not for that untimely breakthrough.

“The turning point for me in this Test match was, first of all, Rishabh Pant’s dismissal (in the 1st innings). 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,” Shastri stated.

India were in a commanding position on Day 3 when KL Rahul and Pant stitched together a brilliant 141-run partnership, steadily taking the game away from England. The duo looked set to seize complete control, but a moment of brilliance in the field from Stokes turned the tide. His sharp effort not only broke the partnership but also shifted the momentum somehow back in England’s favour.

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Shastri also pointed out the lack of concentration from India’s top order on the final day as a crucial factor in the defeat. He specifically mentioned Karun Nair’s dismissal at 40 for 1 in the second innings, calling it a major lapse in concentration. According to Shastri, Nair’s decision to leave a straight delivery opened the door for England’s comeback. Combined with poor shot selection and a lack of mental toughness from the top order, India let the game slip despite a valiant effort from the lower order.

“Having said that, again at 40/1 in the 2nd 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. 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. 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,” said Shastri.

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