Washington Sundar’s confident prediction ahead of Day 5 at Lord’s unexpectedly fired up the England team. In a bold interview, Sundar claimed India would win the match within the first session, a statement that backfired as India ultimately collapsed and lost by 22 runs, handing England a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. The match was intense and closely contested, with India appearing in control until a sudden top-order collapse in their 193-run chase.
Jos Buttler reflected on Sundar’s remark, suggesting it played a crucial role in motivating the English side. He highlighted how such statements don’t go unnoticed in the modern game and noted a rare moment when England’s head coach Brendon McCullum rallied the team, urging them to “ramp it up” in response to Sundar’s boldness. Buttler described the impact as a rallying cry that energized the dressing room ahead of the decisive day.
Sundar’s innings, which began at a critical juncture alongside Ravindra Jadeja, ended quickly as he was dismissed for a four-ball duck by Jofra Archer. Despite Jadeja’s resilient 61* off 181 balls, and tail-enders Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj providing some resistance, India couldn’t recover from the collapse. The lack of substantial support from the lower order ultimately sealed their fate in a thrilling and hard-fought Test.
