Six Key Reasons Why India Lost at Lord’s
"I was expecting a lead of 50 to 100 runs, but Pant’s run-out cost us dearly," says Captain Gill
London: In the ongoing five-match Test series being played for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, hosts England successfully chased down a steep 371-run target in the first Test at Leeds. However, on Monday at Lord’s, India failed to chase a modest target of 193 on the fifth day, losing by just 22 runs. This gave England a 2-1 series lead. India’s defeat can be attributed to six major reasons.
Captain Shubman Gill, after the defeat, praised Ravindra Jadeja (61* in 266 minutes off 181 balls, 1 six, 4 fours) along with tailenders Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, stating:
“Rishabh Pant getting run out in the first innings was the biggest turning point for us. We were hoping for a lead of 50 to 100 runs. If we had managed even a modest lead, we could’ve applied pressure on England in the second innings. But we failed to get that lead.”
India matched England’s first innings total of 387, marking the ninth time in Test history that both teams have recorded identical first-innings scores.
Incidentally, Jadeja had to take a brief break during the final moments of the match to use the bathroom.
Six Main Reasons for India’s Defeat
(1) Defensive Approach in Run Chase
India had a target of 193, which—though tricky on the fifth day overseas—was still achievable. However, Indian batsmen opted for an overly defensive approach instead of the aggression seen in the T20 era. Poor shot selection allowed England to dominate, and only Jadeja, Rahul, Bumrah, and Siraj managed to spend significant time at the crease. Others failed to stay.
(2) Pant’s Unfortunate Run-Out
Vice-captain Rishabh Pant was in great form in this series. He scored a fighting 74 runs in the first innings despite a finger injury. However, in a hurry to help Rahul get his century before lunch, Pant sacrificed his wicket through a run-out, which turned out to be costly.
(3) Top-Order Failures in Both Innings
India’s top-order batting flopped in both innings. Karun Nair, who has had a poor series overall, managed 40 gritty runs in the first innings at Lord’s. But opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was a complete failure, scoring just 13 and 0. Overall, India collapsed under pressure during key moments.
(4) Dropped Catch of Jamie Smith
In the first innings, wicketkeeper Jamie Smith was dropped early on by K. L. Rahul. Smith went on to score 51 runs and helped England recover from 5/255 to 7/355, adding crucial runs.
(5) Lack of Aggression from Jadeja
Former head coach Ravi Shastri pointed out that while Jadeja played patiently and built strong partnerships with Bumrah and Siraj, he should have been more aggressive during those stands. If Jadeja had taken a few calculated risks, England might have been under more mental pressure, benefiting India.
(6) Too Many Extras
Indian bowlers gave away 63 extra runs in the match—31 in the first innings and 32 in the second. These gifted runs made India’s chances of victory even slimmer, especially in such a close finish.