Dinesh Karthik, the former India wicketkeeper-batter, weighed in on Mohammed Siraj’s heartbreaking dismissal that sealed England’s dramatic 22-run win over India in the third Test at Lord’s. In a fascinating observation, Karthik joked that if zinger bails had been in use instead of traditional wooden ones, Siraj might have survived a little longer at the crease.
Siraj, known for his never-say-die attitude, showed immense grit while batting with Ravindra Jadeja during a nerve-wracking final session. Chasing 193, India had slumped to 112/8 when Jasprit Bumrah and Siraj joined Jadeja in a spirited rearguard action. They brought India within touching distance, but Siraj’s luck finally ran out.
Facing Shoaib Bashir, his defensive push saw the ball trickle off the bat, roll onto the stumps, and dislodge the bail ever so lightly. Siraj dropped to his knees, devastated.
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“If it had been a zinger bail, it might not have even fallen—they’re much heavier,” Dinesh Karthik said on Sky Sports. “It felt like it was destined to happen, but India can take heart from the way they fought in the middle session.”
Test Cricket.
Wow.
😍 pic.twitter.com/XGDWM1xR2H— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 14, 2025
Nasser Hussain echoed Karthik’s sentiment, admitting even he initially thought the bail hadn’t fallen. “Siraj ducked his head, and I couldn’t tell it was off. It was that subtle. Neither he nor Jadeja deserved to end up on the losing side,” said the former England captain.
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Jadeja, unbeaten on 61 off 181 balls, was the pillar holding India’s hopes together. He batted valiantly with the lower order, seeing through a two-and-a-half-hour session. India had reached 163/9 at tea, with Bumrah contributing a gritty 5 off 54 balls before his dismissal.
Though India fell just 22 runs short, the fight shown by the tailenders and Jadeja provided a thrilling finish that captivated the packed crowd at Lord’s.
