India’s veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane believes Karun Nair’s LBW dismissal late on day four was the game-changing moment of the third Test match against England at Lord’s. Nair scored 14 runs before he was trapped in front of the wickets by Brydon Carse in the run chase of 193 runs.
Carse got the previous ball to move away and Nair could not make a connection while trying to play away from the body. On the next ball, Carse improved his line and got the ball to move into the right-hander to plumb him in front of the wickets.
Speaking on his YouTube Channel, Ajinkya Rahane said, “At that point in time, India were cruising. 40-odd for one, but lbw of Karun Nair that changed the game for India and England. I thought England came back in the game really well and after that, they started bowling well, their intensity on the field, their fielders, the character that they showed was amazing.
“That’s what you want to see in Test cricket, all the 11 fielders coming together and looking to win the Test match. It was so good to see their attitude and character on the field, even though India fought back really well but credit goes to England, the way they came back in the game and won the Test match.”
On the other hand, Rahane credited Ben Stokes for his direct hit to run out India’s vice-captain Rishabh Pant. The left-hander was going strongly after scoring 74 runs, and Stokes’ brilliance ended a 141-run partnership between Pant and KL Rahul.
“I thought Ben Stokes attacking the ball, one-handed pickup and throwing towards the non-striker’s end was amazing. It is very easy for the fielder to get relaxed when you see only two-to-three balls are left before lunch. You can easily get relaxed. But his attitude towards the ball, his intensity in getting that run out, that is where I felt England came in the game,” Rahane said.
The fourth Test match between England and India will be played at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, from July 23 onwards.
