Sourav Ganguly Reflects on India's Disappointing Loss at Lord's Test

In the aftermath of India's narrow defeat to England at Lord's, former captain Sourav Ganguly expressed his disappointment, believing the team should have chased down the target of 193 runs. Despite a strong performance from Jasprit Bumrah, who took seven wickets, India's batting faltered in the final moments, leading to a heartbreaking 22-run loss. Ganguly emphasized the team's batting quality and their potential to perform better. The match saw significant contributions from both sides, with England ultimately taking the lead in the series. Read on for a detailed breakdown of the match highlights and key performances.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 16, 2025, 10:31 IST

India's Narrow Defeat at Lord's

After India's defeat in the third Test against England at Lord's, former captain Sourav Ganguly expressed his disappointment. He believed that India should have successfully chased down the modest target of 193 runs, especially given their strong batting performance throughout the series.

The match concluded with an unfortunate dismissal of Mohammed Siraj, who was bowled by Shoaib Bashir after the ball unexpectedly rolled back onto the stumps. This marked the end of India's determined effort, leaving Ravindra Jadeja stranded as India lost by 22 runs.

Despite the loss, India had dominated significant portions of the match, with Jasprit Bumrah being a standout player, claiming seven wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings.

Ganguly's Thoughts on the Match Outcome

Commenting on the close defeat, Ganguly stated, "I feel a bit disappointed because, based on India's batting performance in this series, they should have secured this win. The batting talent in this team is exceptional, and I believe they will feel more let down than I do."

#WATCH | #INDvsENGTest | Mumbai, Maharashtra | Former Captain of Indian Cricket Team, Sourav Ganguly said, "I am a little bit disappointed because the way India batted in this series so far, they should have got this one...The batting quality in this team is absolutely brilliant..."

England won the toss and chose to bat first. They initially struggled at 44/2, but a significant partnership of 109 runs between Ollie Pope (44 runs off 104 balls) and Joe Root (104 runs off 199 balls) helped stabilize their innings. Additionally, a counter-attacking 84-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Brydon Carse (56 runs off 83 balls) and Jamie Smith (51 runs off 56 balls) propelled England to a total of 387 runs.

Jasprit Bumrah was the highlight for India with impressive bowling figures of 5/74.

India's Response in the Second Innings

In their second innings, India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal early but managed to build a 61-run partnership between Karun Nair (26 runs off 46 balls) and KL Rahul. A crucial 141-run partnership between KL Rahul (100 runs off 177 balls) and Rishabh Pant (74 runs off 112 balls) brought India close to England's score.

Ravindra Jadeja contributed significantly with a brilliant half-century, scoring 72 runs off 131 balls, supported by lower-order contributions from Nitish Kumar Reddy (30 runs) and Washington Sundar (23 runs), allowing India to match England's total of 387 runs.

Chris Woakes was the leading bowler for England in this innings, taking 3 wickets for 84 runs.

Final Moments of the Match

In England's second innings, India maintained pressure on the batting side, except for a 67-run partnership between Joe Root (40 runs off 96 balls) and Ben Stokes (33 runs off 96 balls). Washington Sundar's exceptional bowling performance (4/22) dismantled England's middle order, leading to their total of 192 runs, setting India a target of 193.

During the chase, India found themselves in a precarious position at 82/7. However, Jadeja (61* runs off 181 balls) fought valiantly, forming partnerships with lower-order batsmen that kept the pressure on England. Unfortunately, Siraj's unfortunate dismissal dashed India's hopes as they were bowled out for 170 runs.

With this loss, India now trails 1-2 in the series. Ben Stokes was awarded 'Player of the Match' for his valuable contributions of 44 and 33 runs, along with five wickets in total, including a three-wicket haul in the second innings alongside Jofra Archer, who also took three wickets.