Many experts have commented on India's heartbreaking loss in the third Test match against England. For the majority of the game, the visitors dominated, only to falter on Day five, as their batters failed to chase 193 in the fourth innings. While Ravindra Jadeja fought valiantly with the tailenders, in the end, the hosts came out victorious by 22 runs. Former India player Mohammed Kaif spoke about the loss and put all the blame on skipper Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj.
Kaif came hard down at the pacer for asking for a ball change in the first innings, a move which significantly shifted the momentum of the match towards the hosts, as their batters Jamie Smith and Carse notched a quick 50-plus stand in no time. Before the ball change, Bumrah was breathing fire, as he accounted for three quick wickets. However, after the ball change, the visitors ' momentum was all lost.
"Siraj is always emotional, so I think approving his call and changing the ball [was a mistake]. When the ball got changed, it didn't move," Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
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Kaif criticizes Shubman Gill for over-the-top celebration following Zak Crawley's dismissal
The expert also questioned Gill's over-animated celebration on Day four after the dismissal of England opener Zak Crawley. The two also had a go at each other after the latter was denying India the chance to bowl another over on late Day three.
"If Crawley hadn't got out on Day 3, he could've got dismissed on the next day. Was he in good form? He is no Joe Root. It was a loss for us. Gill lost his cool, Siraj joined him, and then Reddy celebrated after getting him out. You can show aggression, but you need to do that at the right time. They didn't choose the right time," he added.
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Kaif also questioned skipper Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer's tactics on Day five against the lower order batter Bumrah. The England pacer kept on bowling bouncers to India's number 10 batter. While the premier pacer dealt with easily, in the end, he got out to Stokes by mistiming a pull shot.
"Stokes and Archer planned to bowl bouncers against Bumrah. If he doesn't get out, hit him on the finger or shoulder to injure him. This stays in the mind of bowlers to injure the main bowler, whom our batters find tough to bat against. This was the plan, which worked later (to get him out)," said Kaif.
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The Lord's win has given England a 2-1 lead in the five-match Test series. The fourth Test will be played in Manchester on July 23.
