England wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith enjoyed a massive stroke of luck during Day 2 of the third Test at Lord’s when KL Rahul dropped a regulation catch at second slip. The incident occurred on the third ball of the 87th over, bowled by Mohammed Siraj. Smith, batting on 5 at the time, edged a good-length delivery that flew straight into Rahul’s hands—only to see it spill out.
It was the kind of opportunity Rahul, known for his safe hands in the slip cordon, would normally swallow without fuss. But this time, the chance went begging, and Siraj’s immediate reaction told the story.
WATCH – Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj Confront Umpire Over Ball Change
Visibly frustrated, the pacer could hardly believe the miss, having to wait longer for his first wicket of the innings. The clip of Siraj’s dismay quickly made rounds on social media, with fans empathising with his frustration.
Kl Rahul dropped an easy catch.
If it was jaiswal, everyone would have trolled him very badly or if it was pant,you would have seen expert Dinesh Karthik analysing what went wrong.
Kl Rahul is the most protected player.pic.twitter.com/2bn10MgRMT— Harsh (@A16H_) July 11, 2025
a day without humiliation is a day wasted for kl Rahul#INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/rXW3eFy40M
— salt_swadanusar (@yeasidd) July 11, 2025
At that point, England were 265 for 5, and the breakthrough would’ve been crucial in maintaining India’s dominance after a fiery morning session, where Jasprit Bumrah had already rattled the hosts by removing Joe Root, Ben Stokes, and Chris Woakes in quick succession.
WATCH – Jasprit Bumrah Strikes Twice in Two Balls to Trigger England’s Collapse at Lord’s
Smith, who is enjoying a rich vein of form, came into the third Test high on confidence. In the first two Tests, the young right-hander impressed with scores of 40 and 44* at Headingley, followed by a brilliant 184\* and 88 in Birmingham. The missed opportunity allowed him to settle in and further frustrate the Indian attack, proving yet again that even one drop can change the flow of a Test match.
Though India clawed their way back into the contest, the moment served as a reminder of how costly lapses in the field can be in a game of fine margins.
