New Delhi: In cricket, some defeats leave a scar that generations remember. Something like that happened on Monday as India’s narrow loss at Lord’s in the third Test against England brought back the vivid memories of another heartbreaker. The match took us back to 26 years ago when in Chennai India fell agonisingly short against arch rivals Pakistan despite Sachin Tendulkar’s brilliance.
Mohammed Siraj’s dismissal stirred the deja vu of Chennai. On a tense final day at Lord’s, India needed 21 more runs with just one wicket in hand. Ravindra Jadeja was holding the series single-handedly from one end as players got out. Mohammed Siraj was batting alongside Jadeja and played 30 balls with determination as India was getting closer to a win but then came the moment that felt eerily familiar.
As Shoaib Bashir bowled to Siraj, he defended a delivery with a soft hand, trying to defend the ball safely in front of him. Instead, it rolled back onto the stumps, dislodging a single bail and with that, India’s fight was over.
It wasn’t just a dismissal; rather, it was a moment that instantly transported Indian cricket fans back to January 1999 at Chepauk.
Chennai heartbreak of 1999
India was chasing 271 against Pakistan with Tendulkar playing one of his greatest innings under immense pressure. His 136-run knock took India to the brink even as wickets kept tumbling around him. Tendulkar, along with Sunil Joshi, took India to 254 before falling with just 17 runs remaining.
The Indian tail tried to hold on but the defining moment came when Javagal Srinath was defending against Saqlain Mushtaq as the ball bounced off his bat, slipped between his legs and crashed onto the stumps, dislodging the bails. With that, India fell 12 runs short in what remains one of the most gut-wrenching defeats in its Test history.
A cruel parallel across the generations
Both defeats are 26 years apart but still share haunting similarities. Both matches saw India chasing manageable targets in low-scoring thrillers anchored by gritty lower-order partnerships, and both ended with the final wicket falling in unlucky fashion as the ball trickled back onto the stumps from defensive shots. The incident highlighted how cricket’s history has a way of repeating itself across eras.
Shoaib Bashir bowling out Siraj today to seal the win felt eerily like Saqlain Mushtaq dismissing Srinath in that epic 1999 Chennai Test. History has a strange way of echoing. Who says Test cricket isn’t thrilling? #ENGvIND #PAKvIND #TestCricket #Nostalgia pic.twitter.com/oVlCpna3ME
— Maham Fazal (@MahamFazal_) July 14, 2025
What next for Team India?
Despite the heartbreak at Lord’s, the series is far from over. India, after the loss, now trails 2-1 in the five-match series and with two Tests remaining, the Men in Blue will now focus on regrouping and coming back stronger. The top batting order will once again look to increase their stay at the crease.
The fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester will start from July 23 and will give India a chance to bounce back just like team India did back in 1999 when they won the Delhi Test to draw the series. The spirit, fight and lessons from the Lord’s will fuel their determination to script a comeback and keep the series alive.