{"id":194966,"date":"2026-07-20T11:21:20","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T16:51:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=194966"},"modified":"2026-07-20T11:21:20","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T16:51:20","slug":"fragile-bodies-fragile-bowling-indias-lords-defeat-exposes-deeper-cracks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=194966","title":{"rendered":"Fragile bodies, fragile bowling: India\u2019s Lord\u2019s defeat exposes deeper cracks"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

One of the main subjects of discussion prior to India\u2019s three-match ODI series in England was about Rohit Sharma\u2019s patchy form. After two below-par outings in Birmingham and Cardiff, chatter around the former India skipper intensified.<\/p>\n

But by Sunday evening at Lord\u2019s, it was evident, rather too starkly, that India had more pressing problems to attend to than worry about the utility of a bona fide great.<\/p>\n

Rohit made a part-meticulous, part-carefree 138 (110b, 17×4, 5×6), his first three-figure score in 12 outings, and later termed the speculation around his future as \u201cnoise\u201d that \u201cdoesn\u2019t really matter too much\u201d.<\/p>\n

ALSO READ | Shubman Gill: In World Cup, we will play 11 matches and here players are unable to complete three games<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

However, a tepid show by the bowlers and a surfeit of injuries \u2013 including to Jasprit Bumrah \u2013 meant India fell 28 runs short of the 388-run target and conceded the series 1-2.<\/p>\n

It was captain Shubman Gill\u2019s third series defeat since he took over last October, having suffered reverses to Australia and New Zealand earlier.<\/p>\n

Gill expressed his displeasure at the fitness standards in the squad as India \u2013 apart from Bumrah \u2013 did not have Washington Sundar (hamstring injury in Cardiff), Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarathy (both hamstring, during the T20I series), and all-rounder Nitish Kumar (quadriceps, Afghanistan).<\/p>\n

Hardik Pandya was also grounded by a quadriceps injury and did not even board the flight to the British Isles. Gill rightly pointed out that where the ODI World Cup in 2027 requires a player to play double-digit matches, breaking down after two or three games was undesirable.<\/p>\n

Ironically, the 26-year-old himself retired hurt at Edgbaston because of cramps, and was again troubled by the issue at Lord\u2019s, calling into question his conditioning.<\/p>\n

While fitness concerns can be addressed with a scientific approach, tackling India bowling woes may require a bigger course-correction.<\/p>\n

\"Gill<\/p>\n
Gill expressed his displeasure at the fitness standards in the squad as India \u2013 apart from Bumrah \u2013 did not have Washington Sundar (hamstring injury in Cardiff), Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarathy (both hamstring, during the T20I series), and all-rounder Nitish Kumar (quadriceps, Afghanistan).
\n | Photo Credit:
\n ANI\n <\/p>\n

\"lightbox-info\"\/<\/figcaption><\/div>\n

\n

Gill expressed his displeasure at the fitness standards in the squad as India \u2013 apart from Bumrah \u2013 did not have Washington Sundar (hamstring injury in Cardiff), Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarathy (both hamstring, during the T20I series), and all-rounder Nitish Kumar (quadriceps, Afghanistan).
\n | Photo Credit:
\n ANI\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

With Bumrah\u2019s brilliance always contingent on his body, India needs experienced hands. But the four pacers who took the field on Sunday \u2013 Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar and Prince Yadav \u2013 had just 55 caps combined, and it showed in the way they struggled when put under pressure by a formidable English batting unit.<\/p>\n

ALSO READ | Rohit Sharma: If there\u2019s no noise, there\u2019s no fun<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

Gill, again, admitted to this lacuna, but the think-tank remains bullheaded in its refusal to draft in at least one seasoned practitioner who can help nurture the next generation of quicks.<\/p>\n

Mohammed Shami, who has 206 wickets from 108 ODIs, has been shunned since the victorious Champions Trophy campaign in March 2025, while Mohammed Siraj \u2013 76 wickets from 50 ODIs \u2013 has been in and out of the roster. Wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav \u2013 194 wickets from 121 ODIs \u2013 was a mere passenger for a second straight summer in England.<\/p>\n

Gill said Kuldeep\u2019s non-selection for Lord\u2019s was because of how spinners had found very little purchase in the first two fixtures.<\/p>\n

His England counterpart Harry Brook stated in his post-match media briefing that it was not surprising to see India line up with four pacers, considering the dominance of speed in the series until then and also because of Bumrah\u2019s injury.<\/p>\n

But to forever use conditions, team combination, and the perceived inferior batting prowess as reasons to keep Kuldeep out of the XI are signs of blinkered thinking. Theory will take you only so far.<\/p>\n

Published on Jul 20, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


\n
Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the main subjects of discussion prior to India\u2019s three-match ODI series in England was about Rohit Sharma\u2019s patchy form. After two below-par outings in Birmingham and Cardiff, chatter around the former India skipper intensified. But by Sunday evening at Lord\u2019s, it was evident, rather too starkly, that India had more pressing problems to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":194967,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-194966","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2286758128.jpg","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":194159,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=194159","url_meta":{"origin":194966,"position":0},"title":"With next generation waiting, will Rohit pass the torch or rekindle the fire from within?","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"July 17, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Sporting greats confront two questions towards the end of their careers \u2013 how to consistently live up to their glorious past and how to keep themselves relevant for an\u00a0uncertain future. Rohit Sharma has been in this situation for the past two years. In Tests, his form nosedived starting with the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784293074_AP07_16_2026_000512A.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784293074_AP07_16_2026_000512A.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784293074_AP07_16_2026_000512A.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784293074_AP07_16_2026_000512A.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784293074_AP07_16_2026_000512A.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":193980,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=193980","url_meta":{"origin":194966,"position":1},"title":"3rd ODI at Lord’s could be Rohit’s farewell as selectors prepare to look ahead","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"July 16, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The third ODI at Lord's could be Rohit Sharma's final international appearance, with selectors keen to begin India's transition by backing Yashasvi Jaiswal ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. 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The numbers will remember the three double hundreds, a feat no other batter has managed in men\u2019s ODIs. 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The 39-year-old \u2060managed a laboured 26 off 47 balls on Thursday as England won the second match in Cardiff \u200cto level\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP07_16_2026_000512A.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP07_16_2026_000512A.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP07_16_2026_000512A.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP07_16_2026_000512A.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP07_16_2026_000512A.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgnRh4-OIC","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/194966","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=194966"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/194966\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/194967"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=194966"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=194966"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=194966"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}