Although they prevailed in the Birmingham Test, former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes Shubman Gill and company would have been up 3-0 with a little bit of luck. Following losses in Leeds and London, India is now behind England 1-2 in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025.
After a fiercely contested match, England won the third Test at Lord’s by a margin of 22 runs. According to Shastri, the pivotal moment came when Rishabh Pant was run out in the first innings while batting at 74.
“India could have taken a 3-0 lead with a little bit of luck. First and foremost, Rishabh Pant’s dismissal [in the first innings] was the turning point in this Test match for me. Ben Stokes’ ability to strike the proper end and pull it off on the stroke of lunch is absolutely amazing. “Because India was in control,” Shastri stated in an interview with Sanjana Ganesan on The ICC Review.
Ravi Shastri pointed out that players like Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah demonstrated that there was no devil on the surface, and that India would have won if the top-order batsmen had shown a little more tenacity towards the end of Day 4.
“That was a serious lack of focus. It made a difference. Because you could see how strong Siraj, Bumrah, and Jadeja were in defence as the ball grew older. India would have won this match if the top order had simply been a little more resilient and mentally tougher by the conclusion of Day 4, Shastri continued.
When things became difficult, they took advantage of the opportunities: Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri praised England’s ability to capitalise on pivotal situations during the Test match. The former cricket player turned broadcaster compared the most recent meeting between the two cricketing superpowers to the 2021 Test match between India and England at the Home of Cricket.
“You must give England credit. They took advantage of the opportunities when things became difficult. They kicked the door open when they noticed a crack in it. Almost nothing was present on that surface. India would have chased it down if they had lost two fewer wickets the day before, Ravi Shastri stated.
This brought to mind the 2021 Test. Similar scorelines and a collapse in the second innings occurred when India batted first on that occasion. India was victorious at the time. It was England this time,” he continued.
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