India's heartbreaking loss against England in 3rd test of Anderson Tendulkar trophy!! Key points and Takeaways -

That was indeed a nail-biter of a match. The 3rd Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Lord's certainly lived up to the hype, especially with that thrilling finish. It's tough when you fight so hard and still fall short, but what a display of character from Jadeja and the tail-enders! England won by 22 runs, taking a 2-1 lead in the Anderson-Tendulkar 

So many lessons, so much fight from Jadeja & the tail!

Major Key points of the game -

I) The top-order crumble in the 4th innings. Chasing 193, losing quick wickets, including Jaiswal & Gill in a careless way. Was it overconfidence? Can't win Tests consistently with such collapses. 

II) Rishabh Pant's run-out in the first innings was a turning point. He was looking dangerous, that miscommunication cost India crucial momentum & runs. Every run matters in tight contests! Both captains agreed on that.

III) Extras! A whopping 63 runs conceded in extras across both innings. In a 22-run loss, those byes and wides become gold for the opposition. Discipline is key. And India lost the key too many times.

IV) The tale of two lower orders. England's tail added 116 in their 1st innings after 7 down. India managed just 11. Not blaming our bowlers just saying theirs contributed more.

V) Batting approach. Perhaps a bit too cautious early in the 4th innings chase? Also too reckless altogether.Allowed Archer & Stokes to build pressure. Maybe Jadeza could've accelerated early, or top order should've done better.

VI) Captaincy matters. While fielding it never looked Gill can bring something out of the box. And it's the same Stokes do. The reason their people love Stokes so much is because he can make things happen. He tries, fails and tries again.

Now some takeaways from that game -

1. Siraj was good but he needs a break! He bowls with fire, but the workload is immense. Managing fast bowlers' fitness for long series is non-negotiable. You rest everyone but Siraj, Arshdeep should and must have played.

2. Three all-rounders vs. combination? While Jadeja showed his class, what about others? A specialist batter or bowler might have added more balance. However it depends on conditions & player form but NKR isn't into runs.

3. Karun Nair's spot? Got starts but couldn't convert. With a competitive squad, he needs to make those opportunities count. Consistent big scores are vital for securing a place, else Sai and Eshwaran are waiting .

4. Already said, Extras are criminal! Reiterate: this Test proved how vital it is to cut down on them.

Mental fortitude & seizing momentum. India fought, but collapses at key junctures hurt.

 

5. Why is Stokes a great player? Many compared him stats to Jadeza and he didn't stand there. But he is him, he makes things happen. A long marathon spell, trying different things that's why he's so loved in England. That's what Gill can't do.

6. Frustration with selectors -

Why is Gill captain instead of Rahul or Pant? He doesn't look like a leader in the field. A great batsman doesn't make a great leader. Also Gill should take responsibility and bat at 3.

7. My frustration- Why ain't Shreyas Iyer in the team after performing so well everywhere. He could've played everywhere. He could be our no 4 in all formats but favourism and politics is holding indian cricket down. Gill should bat 3.

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