On August 16, 2021, Team India etched a historic Test victory in the annals of cricket by defeating England by a commanding 151 runs at Lord’s. The narrative of this match was a rollercoaster, with the Men in Blue turning the tables dramatically on the final day. Despite facing adversity, India orchestrated an astounding comeback, not only positioning themselves for victory but also dismantling England within two sessions.

After the first innings, little separated the teams, leaving only a narrow 27-run lead. India found themselves in a precarious situation at 194-7 in their second innings. However, a remarkable partnership between unlikely heroes, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, altered the game’s trajectory. Their gritty alliance of 89 runs for the ninth wicket propelled India to set a 272-run target in 60 overs.

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Energized by a passionate rallying call from Virat Kohli, India’s pace arsenal unleashed a torrent of fiery deliveries upon England’s batting lineup. The contest’s complexion shifted dramatically as England lost their opening batsmen within the first 10 deliveries of their final innings. While a win for England seemed implausible, Team India still had to capture six wickets during the last session. Swiftly after the break, Mohammed Siraj dismissed Joe Root, followed by consecutive dismissals of Moeen Ali and Sam Curran.

A well-calculated slow cutter from Bumrah ended Ollie Robinson’s resistance. The outcome seemed inevitable as India’s victory march continued with the removal of the last recognized batter, Jos Buttler, leaving less than nine overs in the day. In a poetic conclusion, Mohammed Siraj breached James Anderson’s defenses mere deliveries later, sealing the iconic win at the revered Home of Cricket.

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This victory handed India a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, a deserving outcome following the earlier thwarted win due to rain in the series opener at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. KL Rahul was rightfully declared the player of the match for his composed century in testing conditions on Day 1 at Lord’s. Virat Kohli, in the post-match presentation, lauded the team’s performance, emphasizing the exceptional batting in challenging circumstances and the remarkable prowess of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami under pressure.

The echoes of this triumph reverberate beyond its numerical value. It marks not only India’s third Test win at Lord’s, with previous victories in 1986, 2014, and now 2021, but also stands as a testament to the squad’s resilience, collective determination, and the strategic brilliance of their leader, Virat Kohli.