India’s Heartbreaking 22-Run Loss at Lord’s: Jadeja’s Heroics, Pant’s Run-Out, and Test Cricket’s Drama Unfold I Best11.in
Shubman Bashir’s delivery was confidently defended by Siraj, but it seemed the fate of that ball had been preordained by someone. It didn’t appear that the ball, rolling close to his feet, had the pace to dislodge the bails and hit the stumps. Yet, just a few centimeters from the stumps, the ball seemed to gather speed. It wasn’t from the pitch but through some ill-fated trajectory in the air that the ball knocked off the stumps. As Siraj stood at the crease, head bowed in disbelief, the cameras zoomed in on him while the English players roared in celebration.
As they celebrated, the hopes of the Indian fans, who had pinned their expectations on a lone warrior, came crashing down. Jadeja watched helplessly as Siraj was consoled by the English players, who upheld the gentlemanly spirit of cricket. The Indian fans, weighed down by sorrow, shared the same emotional turmoil as Siraj, who stood with his head bowed at the crease. This match had all the elements to be remembered for generations as an epic run chase for India. Yet, the harsh reality is that India fell short by 22 runs.
We can accept the defeat. We can also take pride in the fact that we didn’t fall without a fight. When Washington Sundar, the seventh wicket, fell with India’s score at 82, England seemed to have sealed the match. However, Ben Stokes’ statement that the celebrations were premature proved true as India’s tailenders put up a fight. Jadeja, along with Nitish Kumar Reddy, added 30 runs for the eighth wicket. As long as the two were at the crease, faint hopes began to sprout for India. But at 112, Reddy too departed. The English, who thought the match would end in a few overs, were proven wrong yet again.
Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja stood firm, refusing to surrender. While Jadeja took on the responsibility single-handedly, Bumrah held his ground with unwavering resolve at the other end. Facing a barrage of spin and pace from Stokes, Bumrah played 54 balls at the crease. The English were pushed to the peak of frustration by India’s fighting spirit. Every run was greeted with applause from the Indian fans, who kept hoping for a miracle. Finally, it was Captain Ben Stokes himself who came to take Bumrah’s wicket. It was an entirely unnecessary shot from Bumrah. But what more could one expect from a tailender? Siraj, who followed, proved the picture was far from over.
With Siraj also standing firm at the crease, Lord’s was literally on edge. The fans experienced the kind of emotion that only Test cricket can evoke. England was just one wicket away from victory, while India needed just four or five boundaries for a dream win. As Jadeja completed a memorable half-century after an unforgettable fight, Ben Stokes’ face turned red with intensity. In the end, with victory just 22 runs away, Siraj fell as the final wicket. England celebrated as if they had conquered the world. Even in defeat, Jadeja walked back to the Lord’s dressing room with his head held high. With Kohli, Rohit, and Ashwin retired, Jadeja answered those who questioned why he still clung to the team by becoming a one-man army.
Alongside Stokes’ fighting spirit, Jofra Archer’s name stands out in the England lineup. Returning to Test cricket after a long gap, Archer proved his fire hadn’t dimmed. The delivery that uprooted Rishabh Pant’s stumps was a testament to the fact that England’s soil still has bowlers capable of rattling opponents. What was the turning point of this Test? Captain Gill pointed to Pant’s run-out on the third day. Chasing England’s first innings score of 387, India was at 107 for three. Pant and KL Rahul had built a partnership, taking the score to 248. Rahul was on 97 at the time. In the final over before lunch, Rahul had informed Pant of his intent to complete his century. Accordingly, Pant hesitated on a tight single, only to be run out by Stokes’ brilliant throw. Rahul, who completed his century soon after, also fell. These wickets prevented India from taking a first-innings lead.
Moreover, Captain Gill noted that if Jadeja and Siraj had survived five more overs, a new ball would have arrived, making it easier to score boundaries. Some, like Sanjay Manjrekar, opined that India should have played more aggressively. They argue that Jadeja or Nitish Kumar Reddy, along with the bowlers, should have attacked. This is a debatable point. Regardless, the Lord’s Test concluded with a box-office experience, filled with fiery moments and verbal duels. After a few days’ break, we await the next chapter of this battle at Old Trafford, Manchester, on July 23.
