NEW DELHI: India’s only centurion in the Lord’s Test, KL Rahul, took to social media to reflect on the 22-run defeat that saw the visitors fall 1-2 behind in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series. Calling some matches “more than wins and losses,” Rahul shared his thoughts in a heartfelt Instagram post.Rahul, along with vice-captain Rishabh Pant, opened the innings for India on Day 5. However, Pant was bowled by Jofra Archer early in the session, and soon after, Rahul was trapped leg-before by Ben Stokes. Their dismissals triggered a collapse that left India’s lower order with too much to do, despite the spirited efforts of Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj.
“Some games are more than wins or losses. They test your spirit, your character and the learnings make you stronger,” Rahul posted.
Earlier, former India head coach Ravi Shastri identified key moments that swung the match in England’s favour — notably Pant’s run-out in the first innings and Karun Nair’s dismissal in the second.
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What do you think was the biggest turning point in the Lord’s Test match for India?
“The turning point for me in this Test match was, first of all, Rishabh Pant’s dismissal (in the first innings). 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,” Shastri said on The ICC Review.“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,” he added.A day after the defeat, players from both the Indian men’s and women’s teams met King Charles III at Clarence House in London. The King interacted with cricketers including Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, and Shubman Gill.
