India's Greatest Test Victories: The Massacre at Lord's

 By the end of Day 4, the match was in a precarious position. Having drawn the first test, a win in this one would mean going up 1-0 for whichever team came out victorious. Anything could happen. India ended Day 4 of the second test in England 2021 with a lead of 154 and 4 wickets in hand. 

The Lord's Test match of 2021 was the second game of the five-match series between England and India. After drawing the first match at Trent Bridge, India needed a strong comeback, and they did just that. Led by captain Virat Kohli, the Indian team produced an exceptional performance to secure a victory by 151 runs. 

The match started with England winning the toss and opting to bowl first. India had a shaky start, losing three quick wickets. However, a brilliant partnership between Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma stabilized the innings. Sharma went on to score a magnificent century, and India posted a total of 364 runs in their first innings. England, in response, was bowled out for 391 runs, with Joe Root scoring a brilliant century. Despite Root's efforts, India managed to keep the lead down to just 27 runs. 

In their second innings, India's top-order batsmen, including KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Kohli himself, played crucial roles in setting a challenging target for England. India declared at 298/8, leaving England with a target of 272 runs to win. With 60 overs left in the game, all three results were possible. Indian captains of the past would have played the innings out to secure a draw. Kohli on the other hand has always played to win, and something very similar happened in his first test as a captain ever. However, this was a huge gamble. A loss in the game would mean a 1-0 deficit and the cries of Indian fans all around the world who would demand Kohli's sacking. The English batting order was formidable, but, one of the greatest on-field quotes by Virat Kohli. gave the bowlers all the ammunition they needed. In the huddle before the start of play, Kohli uttered the sentence "Give them hell for 60 overs"; that was it. 

England started their chase confidently, with Rory Burns and Dom Sibley building a solid partnership. However, once the partnership was broken, the Indian bowlers took control of the game. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj all picked up crucial wickets, and the Englishmen stood no match.  A wicket in the third ball of the innings lit up the crowd, and there was no stopping the Indian bowling attack. Wickets fell at regular intervals, and England was eventually bowled out for 120 runs, securing a 151-run victory for India. 

The win at Lord's was significant for several reasons. It was India's first victory at the ground in ten years, and it also marked Kohli's first win as a captain at the iconic venue. The win also highlighted the depth of talent in the Indian team, with contributions from both batsmen and bowlers. The victory gave India a 1-0 lead in the series. The importance of this match cannot be underscored. It set a tone for the rest of the matches and gave India a 2-1 lead en route to their first victory in England since 2002, when the Corona Virus wreaked havoc in the Indian camp, postponing the next test to 2022. India's loss in 2022 meant the series tied at 2-2, something that can be attributed to a break in momentum as the match felt like it was part of different series altogether. Nevertheless, the victory at Lord's in 2021 was a remarkable achievement and one that will go down in history as a great moment in Indian cricket. The win was a testament to the team's skill, perseverance, and determination to overcome tough challenges, particularly on foreign soil.