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Shastri Identifies Pant, Nair Dismissals as Turning Points in India's Lord's Defeat
16 Jul
Summary
- Rishabh Pant's run-out on 74 just before lunch on Day 3 was a crucial moment
- Karun Nair's dismissal for leaving a straight ball in the second innings opened the door for England
- India could have been 3-0 up in the series if a few things had gone their way
In the recent third Test between India and England at Lord's, former India head coach Ravi Shastri has identified two crucial moments that he believes swung the match in England's favor. Shastri highlighted Rishabh Pant's dismissal for 74 just before lunch on Day 3 as the first turning point, praising England captain Ben Stokes' "presence of mind" in effecting the run-out.
The second pivotal moment, according to Shastri, was Karun Nair's dismissal in the second innings. With India at 41 for 1, Nair offered no shot to a delivery from pacer Brydon Carse, leading to his leg-before dismissal. This, Shastri said, was a "huge lapse of concentration" that opened the door for England.
Despite India's strong performance, Shastri rued the fact that the visitors could have been 3-0 up in the series had the "rub of the green" gone their way. He praised England's resilience in seizing the key moments, but also felt that the Indian top-order could have shown more discipline in the second innings.
The fourth Test between the two sides is scheduled to begin on July 23 in Manchester, and Shastri believes India has the ability to bounce back and make the series finale at The Oval a thrilling affair.
