At the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, a tense Day 5 chase turned into heartbreak for India as both Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul, the fiery aggressor and the icy stabilizer – fell apart under pressure, triggering a collapse that cost India the third Test. Chasing 193 for victory, India had hope when these two walked in. But Pant’s early dismissal for just 9 runs off 12 balls, and Rahul’s gritty but incomplete 39 off 58, shattered the middle order. England sealed a 22-run win, taking a 2–1 lead in the series and leaving India to wonder what might have been if their ‘Fire & Ice’ had held firm.

Sledging Turned the Heat Up:
England didn’t just bowl, they chipped away at India’s minds. Rishabh Pant was greeted with bouncers and taunts before Archer rattled his stumps. KL Rahul’s calm was tested with sarcastic claps and silent smirks. Harry Brook targeted Nitish Reddy with a brutal jibe: “This isn’t the IPL.” Minutes later, Brendon McCullum signaled from the balcony, turn up the sledging. Washington Sundar walked in and walked out in four balls. India’s collapse wasn’t just about skill, it was a masterclass in mental warfare.

Jadu Silenced the Lord’s:
Ravindra Jadeja walked in when India were crumbling at 71 for 5, moments after Rishabh Pant was dismissed trying to break free. The match had almost slipped away, but Jadeja didn’t panic, he went to work, quietly.

He first tried to rebuild with Nitish Kumar Reddy, but that stand didn’t last long. Then came Jasprit Bumrah, and together they stitched a gritty 35-run partnership. With only Mohammed Siraj left, Jadeja still held on, farming the strike and adding 23 more runs for the last wicket.

He remained unbeaten on 61 off 181 balls, watching partners fall one after another — yet never giving up. From 71/5 to 170 all out, Jadeja stood alone. The chase may have failed, but for nearly four hours, he silenced Lord’s with bat-in-hand and calm-in-heart.

Also read : Lord’s Turns into a Pressure Cooker: India’s Grit vs England’s Fire https://clickingtosports.com/lords-pressure-cooker-india-vs-england-day5/

India Couldn’t Digest Lunch:
Before Day 5, Washington Sundar confidently said:
“Definitely India winning tomorrow, probably just after lunch.”

But lunch never came with joy. It came with a collapse.

From 58/4, India lost Pant, Rahul, Reddy, and Sundar — crashing to 112/8 before the first session ended.
The match didn’t fall apart after lunch — India couldn’t even digest it.

All that was left was Jadeja, holding on in silence while the game slipped away.
What was supposed to be a chase turned into a collapse.
And what looked like control turned into a cautionary tale.

From Run-Out to Meltdown,Gill Reflects:
After the Lord’s loss, skipper Shubman Gill fronted the media with calm clarity. Reflecting on the match, he admitted that Rishabh Pant’s run-out in the first innings hurt momentum badly:

“Pant’s run-out was the turning point. That started the slide.”

While that collapse shaped India’s position early, the real heartbreak came on Day 5 — and Gill didn’t shy away from that either:

“We needed two 50-run stands in the second innings — but couldn’t build them. That cost us.”

He praised Jadeja’s resilience and defended KL Rahul, calling him a “big-match player” despite the miss. Gill also touched on the sledging tension, saying:

“It made the Test more exciting. That’s the beauty of this format.”


Nitish Rises, Nair Fades:
While Karun Nair struggled to make his mark, debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy showed composure beyond his years. He scored a patient 30 off 91 balls in the first innings, battling tough conditions with grit. In the second innings, he added 13 off 53, holding one end before falling under pressure.

Nair, despite all his experience, failed to deliver when it mattered. His 40 in the first innings looked promising, but a poor judgment call in the second saw him leave a straight delivery, trapped LBW for just 14. Over six innings in the series, he totaled 131 runs with no fifty — a return that now raises questions about his place.

As India looks ahead, one may still be rising — the other fading into shadows.

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