London — In a match that kept cricket fans on the edge of their seats till the very last over, England edged past India by just 22 runs in the third Test at Lord’s. The narrow defeat brought back memories of past heartbreaks and inspired praise for both sides, as former cricketers Anil Kumble and Jonathan Trott offered sharp insights during JioCinema’s ‘Match Centre Live’ post-match discussion.
Anil Kumble, reflecting on the loss, drew parallels to a similar moment from his own career. “It reminded me of our loss to Pakistan in Chennai, where we fell short by just 12 runs. This felt the same—Jadeja had a plan, he nearly pulled it off,” he said. “England held their nerve. I think Jofra Archer’s previous over did enough to shake Siraj’s confidence. The silly point came in, pressure mounted, and the game slipped. It could’ve been a historic win, but even in defeat, there’s so much for India to take forward.”
Jonathan Trott echoed the sentiment of respect for the quality of cricket played. “Another Test match decided by the tiniest margin—22 runs. The game was intense, but at the end, we saw Siraj being consoled, handshakes exchanged. That’s the spirit of Test cricket,” he noted. “This was edge-of-the-seat drama, and personally, I loved every bit of it. It had spice, it had tension—but all within the spirit of the game. I hope the next Test continues with the same energy, minus the emotional carryover.”
Jadeja’s performance stood out for both experts. Trott praised the all-rounder’s discipline under pressure. “He maneuvered the innings brilliantly. He left well, took risks when necessary, and showed immense composure. Yes, people will question whether he should’ve attacked Bashir earlier, but that’s hindsight. Had he gotten out trying to hit, the narrative would’ve flipped. I thought he was excellent.”
Kumble offered a more technical breakdown. “Jadeja would have known who to target—perhaps Woakes or Root. Bashir was a risk. Ideally, he should’ve taken that risk, not Siraj. Still, his effort—coming in early and nearly carrying the innings—was outstanding. To double the score from 82/7 with only the tail for company shows his maturity. The others will be disappointed. And let’s not forget the extras—those 60-plus runs were a big factor.”
Looking at the broader picture, Kumble added, “This series is a perfect showcase for why Test cricket matters. All three matches have gone to the final session. The 2-1 lead flatters England a little—session-wise, it’s been neck and neck. India bounced back after the first Test, and this one could’ve gone either way. But small moments cost them—Pant’s run-out before lunch, the unrestrained scoring by Jamie Smith and Carse, and, of course, the extras.”
With two matches remaining in the series, the tension is far from over. Both experts agreed that while England currently hold the lead, India have shown they can fight back—and perhaps even the score. “If anything,” Trott concluded, “this Test showed that the old format still delivers the best drama. I can’t wait for the fourth Test.”
