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Cricketer-turned-commentator Ravi Shastri recently opened up on a defining moment from India’s 2021 tour of England, the historic victory at Lord’s. In a gripping recollection shared on Sky Sports, Shastri unveiled details of his conversation with then-captain Virat Kohli on the eve of Day 5, when the Men in Blue were staring down the barrel. India had conceded a 27-run lead after the first innings and ended Day 4 tottering at 181 for 6, their hopes hanging by a thread.
Fortune declined further early on Day 5 when Rishabh Pant, the last recognised batter, perished quickly, leaving India at 194 for 7 with only tail-enders to follow. With no Shardul Thakur to bolster the lower order, India were playing a rare combination of four pacers, and their batting depth looked alarmingly thin.
But then came an unforgettable rescue act. Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah stitched together a heroic unbeaten ninth-wicket stand that swung the momentum India’s way. The partnership stretched India’s lead to 298. A cushion that suddenly brought victory back into the conversation.
Shastri revealed the confidence that coursed through the dressing room despite the odds.
“Off the field, mellow, chilled guy. On the field, he is a beast. He’ll look you in the eye, and play hard cricket. We had a chat in the morning (Day 5 Lord’s 2021), and all we said is, try and get England to chase 170, we’re winning this,” Shastri said on Sky Sports.
Even as pundits and newspapers overwhelmingly picked England as favourites, Shastri recalled how India’s self-belief remained unshaken
“Every newspaper had England favorites. I picked up The Times, Michael Atherton writing England’s favorites. The Telegraph, England’s favorites. I’m reading all of this in the bus, and we reached the ground, and the last-wicket partnership adds another 100. That lifted the dressing room. It was COVID time, so the long room was empty. When Bumrah and Shami came back, we made a corridor for them and welcomed back. There and then, I knew Kohli is going to tell them something once they go out into the huddle,” he added.
As England began their chase, Kohli rallied his troops with an electrifying speech in the huddle, laying down the tone for the final session.
“We get them out or not, but we need to make these 60 overs feel like hell for England batsmen. If I see anyone laughing in front of their players, see what happens. Got it? Sixty overs should feel like hell out there,” Kohli thundered.
What followed Kohli's iconic speech
The bowling unit responded in kind. Bumrah struck in the very first over, removing Rory Burns, while Shami struck from the other end to send Dom Sibley back. England were shell-shocked at 1 for 2, and the pace battery didn’t let up. Fueled by aggression and precise execution, India bundled out England for just 120, sealing a dramatic win with a few overs to spare victory that instantly entered the annals of Indian Test history.
That memorable triumph marked India’s second win at Lord’s in their last three outings. India won by 151 runs and KL Rahul became the 'Player Of The Match'.
The Men in Blue are all set to return to the Home of Cricket for the third Test of the ongoing series, beginning July 10 and memories of that 2021 masterclass will undoubtedly linger in the minds of players and fans alike.
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