Out-of-favour Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane believed that Karun Nair’s dismissal late on Day 4 of the Lord’s Test against England proved to be a turning point in the match. The 37-year-old opined that the wicket shifted momentum in favour of the hosts with just one day remaining in the contest.
Nair was trapped lbw for 14 by Brydon Carse after he mistakenly left an incoming delivery. Umpire Paul Reiffel raised his finger, and Nair chose not to review the decision, which placed India under early pressure while chasing a target of 193. Sharing his thoughts on his YouTube channel, Rahane stated:
“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 which 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.”
Rahane Applauds Stokes For Smart Run Out Of Pant
Ajinkya Rahane also lauded England skipper Ben Stokes for his sharp fielding effort that led to Rishabh Pant’s run out in the first innings. He noted that players often lose focus as a break nears, but Stokes remained attentive and capitalised on the moment with an excellent piece of fielding.
“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.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
