Former Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane reviewed the Lord's Test on his YouTube channel, highlighting key moments from the match. He pointed out that Rishabh Pant’s run-out in the first innings was a major turning point and praised the intensity shown by England’s captain, especially just before lunch.
Stokes' Intensity Shifted the Game": Rahane on Pant’s Run-Out
Rahane lauded Ben Stokes for his sharp presence in the field, which led to Pant’s dismissal.
“It’s very easy for the fielder to get relaxed,” Rahane noted. “When you see only two or three balls left before lunch, you can easily get relaxed. But his attitude towards the ball, his intensity, and getting that run-out, that’s where I felt England came into the game.”
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He also praised England’s overall fielding effort, applauding their never-give-up attitude.
“That’s what you want to see in Test cricket, all 11 fielders coming together and looking to win the Test match,” he said.
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Rahane Backs Kuldeep, Says Extra Bowler Key to Winning in England
Rahane was pleased with India’s overall performance at Lord’s and appreciated Ravindra Jadeja’s outstanding effort with the bat. However, he recommended including Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI for the next match, stressing the value of having an extra bowler in English conditions.
“We all know that Days 4 and 5 get slightly difficult to bat on. It’s not easy to score runs. Yes, England bowled well. But I felt India missed an opportunity to get that big score on the board in the first innings. And also, I feel going forward, India should look to add one extra bowler — because you're going to win a Test match or a Test series by getting 20 wickets,” Rahane said.
Kuldeep Yadav’s potential inclusion has been a key talking point since the first Test. However, Gautam Gambhir, who consistently backs all-rounders, opted for Washington Sundar in the last two matches. So far, that decision has paid off, with Sundar bowling effectively at Lord’s. In contrast, Nitish Kumar has shown inconsistency, and recent reports suggest he may be dropped for the Manchester Test.
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