5 Key Reasons Why India Lost the 3rd Test to England at Lord’s
India’s hopes of clinching the 3rd Test at Lord’s came crashing down as England edged past by 22 runs, taking a 2-1 lead in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series. Despite a spirited fightback from Ravindra Jadeja, supported by tailenders Bumrah and Siraj, India fell short in a low-scoring thriller that went down to the wire on Day 5.
Here are the five major reasons why Shubman Gill’s India suffered this heartbreaking defeat:
1. Defensive Approach While Chasing 193
India had a realistic target of 193 to chase in the final innings on a worn-out Day 5 pitch. But instead of counter-attacking, the Indian top and middle order adopted a conservative approach, allowing England’s pacers to dictate terms.
- Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes grabbed three wickets each, breaking India’s back early.
- Only KL Rahul (39) showed some intent, while Jadeja’s unbeaten 42 was too little, too late.
The lack of proactive shot-making cost India momentum early in the innings.
2. Pant-Rahul Run-Out Mix-Up
India were in a strong position at 248/4 in the first innings, with Rishabh Pant going strong after his blazing 74. But a disastrous run-out due to a mix-up with KL Rahul swung the momentum dramatically in England’s favour.
Even Rahul later admitted that it was a turning point that “shifted momentum away from India.”
3. Top-Order Failure and Nightwatchman Gamble
India’s top order continued to struggle:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 13 & 0,
- Karun Nair got starts but failed to capitalise,
- The decision to send Akash Deep as nightwatchman didn’t pay off, as he fell cheaply.
Early wickets meant India were always playing catch-up in both innings.
4. Dropped Catch of Jamie Smith
A costly error occurred when KL Rahul dropped Jamie Smith on 28. Smith went on to score a quick 51 off 56 balls, helping England recover from 265/5 to 355/7 in the first innings.
This dropped catch proved expensive, widening the margin between the two teams.
5. Excessive Extras Conceded by Bowlers
India conceded a whopping 63 extras in the match:
- 31 in the first innings
- 32 in the second innings
In a tight contest decided by just 22 runs, those gifted runs made a crucial difference and exposed India’s lack of discipline in bowling and fielding.
ALSO READ| WTC Points Table Updated After India’s Loss in 3rd Test vs England
With two Tests remaining in the series, India still have a shot at levelling or winning the series. However, they need to address these recurring mistakes, especially in batting strategy and field discipline, to bounce back and stay in the WTC 2025–27 race.
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