On the final day of the Lord’s Test, Team India once again found themselves at the center of criticism as their batting lineup faltered under pressure in a modest run chase. Set a target of 193, the visitors stumbled dramatically against a disciplined and fired-up English bowling attack, reigniting concerns about India’s repeated second-innings failures.
KL Rahul, fresh off a century in the first innings, was India’s lone bright spark with a fighting 39 in the second. But his dismissal midway through the chase signaled the unraveling of yet another Indian collapse, with victory slipping rapidly from their grasp.
As wickets fell in quick succession and India’s hopes faded, social media erupted with anger and frustration. Fans didn’t hold back, pointing fingers at the batting unit’s lack of composure and the team’s failure to handle pressure in crunch situations.
Another Collapse, Another Heartbreak
After matching England’s first-innings total of 387, India appeared poised to pull off a memorable win. But chasing a relatively straightforward target of 193 turned into a nightmare.
Yashasvi Jaiswal was the first to go, falling for a duck, continuing his lean run. Karun Nair added 14 after a 36-run stand with Rahul before perishing cheaply once again. Shubman Gill’s woes with the bat continued, as he was dismissed by Brydon Carse for just 6.
The team management’s decision to promote Akash Deep up the order also backfired, as he managed only a single run. Despite Rahul’s efforts to steady the ship, he was undone by Ben Stokes, who continued to lead by example for England.
The lower-middle order offered little resistance. Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Rishabh Pant all fell in quick succession, leaving Jadeja to wage a lone battle with the tail.
Fans React: “Same Old Story”
Fans, already disheartened by recent performances, took to social media to vent their disappointment.
“How much a leader matters this is the perfect example. Had it been Root’s team, India might’ve chased it. But this is Stokes’ team. He keeps them together and leads from the front. Gave them the English version of ‘make them feel hell out there’,” posted @pantesque.
“Same collapse again. Whenever the pitch has bounce or turn, this team struggles. You need real Test batting skills it’s tough to become a Dravid or VVS. This team only looks good on flat tracks,” wrote @JaySarangi.
“Virat once said, ‘Make them feel hell for 60 overs’ — and his team delivered. Now it’s India facing that fire. That was Kohli’s team. This one? Just the BCCI’s,” tweeted @clutchgod018.
“They needed a defensive batter like Pujara. With him, this match could’ve been won. Jaiswal needed more patience early on. It’s still a good team, but lacking balance,” shared @rram_c.
“People call SA chokers, but they made 280 against Australia in a final at Lord’s. India, with all their resources, keep collapsing. Real chokers, to be honest. Shameful,” said @sawyasssss.
“Embarrassing show from India. Gautam Gambhir shouldn’t continue in his role. This team’s fake aggression isn’t helping they lack temperament. What a colossal failure at Lord’s,” posted @vishnufam.
The loss at Lord’s wasn’t just about numbers, it struck an emotional chord with fans who have grown tired of seeing the same script unfold. While England celebrated a hard-fought win, India left the field with more questions than answers. As criticism mounts, the spotlight now turns to the management and senior players to address the team’s recurring batting frailties under pressure.
