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England registered a slim 22-run win to go 2-1 up within the five-match sequence, bowling India out for 170 within the chase of 193.
“The turning point for me in this Test match was, first of all, Rishabh Pant’s dismissal (in the first innings),” Shastri mentioned on ‘The ICC Review‘.
Shastri lauded England captain Ben Stokes’ “presence of mind” to impact Pant’s run out on 74 on the stroke of lunch on Day 3, which gave his facet a foothold.
“Ben Stokes…simply outstanding presence of mind to hit at the right end and pull it off on the stroke of lunch. Because India would have got a lead and they were in the driver’s seat,” he added.
Karun and KL Rahul had taken India to 41 for one within the second innings on the fourth day, however the former provided no shot to a supply from pacer Brydon Carse to be adjudged leg earlier than.
It gave England a gap and India slumped to 82 for seven from 42 for 2 at hand the benefit to the hosts. Shastri mentioned Karun suffered from “huge lapse of concentration.” “Having said that, again at 40/1 (in the second innings), I thought that was a huge lapse in concentration from Karun Nair to leave a straight ball, a nothing ball, to leave it and open the door for England. I thought that the timing of that dismissal turned things around.” The former India skipper additionally opined that the Indian top-order ought to have proven a little bit extra prudence within the second innings.
“Because you noticed when Siraj batted, when Bumrah batted, when Jadeja was batting, as soon as the ball was 40 overs outdated, they hardly put a foot flawed.
“They had been strong in defence and to deliver that concentrate on down at lunch, 82 to get, you thought within the subsequent 10 minutes it might be accomplished and dusted. But to deliver that 82 or 83 to 22 was an enormous achievement.
“So, it just goes to show that (if) the top order had just been a little tougher and mentally stronger on Day 4, towards the end, this game would have been India’s,” he added.
Shastri mentioned India has the wherewithal to bounce again into the sequence, however rued the truth that the guests would have been up 3-0 had the rub of inexperienced gone their approach.
“It (the Lord’s Test) reminded me so much of the Test match in 2021 (at the Lord’s when Shastri was the head coach). Only on that occasion, it was India who batted first. Scores were very similar, 300, 300 and then a collapse in the second innings. At that time, India won.” This time it was England.
“But a fascinating series and two more to go. Anything can happen. India can bounce back straight away and if that happens, The Oval (final Test) will be a thriller,” he famous.
“Fifteen days in the series, it’s been riveting stuff. And at times, I think India could have been 3-0 up. A little bit of luck, India could have been 3-0 up.” The fourth Test between the 2 sides will start at Manchester on July 23.
However, Shastri was beneficiant in his reward of England and their captain Stokes.
“You have to go with England. When the going acquired powerful, these moments they seized. And after they noticed a gap within the door, they only banged their door down.
“There was hardly anything on that surface, and if you had lost two wickets less the previous day I think India would have chased that down,” he mentioned.
Chasing 193, India closed the Day 4 of the third Test at a wobbly 58 for 4.
Moving onto the giant-willed Stokes, Shastri mentioned: “Stokes bowling these spells, I knew one thing was coming at Edgbaston (second Test) as a result of he had one thing again there.
“He needed gas within the tank for Lord’s and he confirmed it on the final day. Eight overs, nine-over spells. At one stage, 10 overs in direction of the top to clinch it for England,” he mentioned.
Stokes bowled 24 overs, greater than another England bowler within the Test, and picked up three wickets together with the very important one among Rahul.
