Day 1 – Root’s Grace and Bumrah’s Fire
The opening day of the 3rd Test at Lord’s belonged indirectly to India. England posted a total of 387 in 112.3 overs, which is fairly slow by their Bazball standards. Joe Root was in his element, scoring a majestic century that stitched England’s innings together.
However, the story could have been different had Indian fielders held on to their chances. Multiple dropped catches meant Root and company were given lifelines. Once again, India’s fielding, especially the catching, looked subpar.
That said, Jasprit Bumrah stood tall. His fiery five-wicket haul not only brought India back into the game but also earned him a proud mention on the Lord’s honours board. Youngster Nitish Kumar Reddy chipped in with a couple of breakthroughs too.
Day 2 – Rahul’s Century Overshadowed by Pant’s Run Out
India matched England’s first innings total, scoring 387, but the innings was filled with drama.
KL Rahul brought up a brilliant century, his second at Lord’s after 2021; however, the moment that changed the momentum came just before lunch. A risky single in search of a century for Rahul resulted in Rishabh Pant getting run out, thanks to a sharp throw from Ben Stokes. From the spectator’s view, it seemed like desperation clouded Rahul as well as Pant’s judgment.
Rahul, ironically, departed right after the break, playing a nothing shot. Damage was already done by then. Jadeja carried the innings forward and notched up his third consecutive half-century in the series, proving again how valuable he is in the middle lower order.
H2: Day 3 – England Collapse, Sundar Shines
England’s second innings saw them bundled out for 192. Washington Sundar led the bowling with a four-wicket haul, while Bumrah and Siraj were relentless as ever.
At one stage, England were reeling at 87 for 4. Root and Stokes once again stitched a vital partnership, but it wasn’t enough to push the total past 200. Credit to the Indian bowlers for not letting the game drift.
H2: Day 4 & 5 – A Chase That Began and Ended in Heartbreak
India needed 193 to win. With over 110 overs in hand, it looked achievable on paper. But what unfolded was a collapse of epic proportions.
India were reduced to 82/7 before Jadeja and Reddy offered some resistance, taking it to 112/8. The final fightback came from none other than Bumrah, who stood like a wall, playing 54 balls for just 5 runs. Jadeja did the scoring and scored his fourth consecutive fifty of the series.
India fell short by 22 runs. The collapse was a reminder that in Test cricket, one bad session can cost the match.
Who Were the Culprits?
- Pant’s run out: A pivotal moment that shifted momentum.
- Karun Nair’s failure: After making a comeback through strong domestic and county performances, his second-innings failure will invite criticism for sure.
- Jaiswal’s twin failures: Especially his soft dismissal to Archer in the second inns.
- Gill’s rare off-match: Failed to score big in both innings.
- Nitish Reddy: Didn’t look in control in English conditions so far while batting
- Fielding: Once again, the butter fingers were on display. Catching let the bowlers down.
Positives to Take Away
- Jadeja’s form: Four consecutive 50s in a series is no joke. He’s been India’s most reliable batter in the last 2 test matches.
- Bumrah’s consistency: Leading the attack with class and grit.
- Sundar’s rise as a bowler: His second-innings spell proved crucial.
- Siraj’s aggression and Akashdeep’s efforts: Showed intent and fight.
Looking Ahead to the 4th Test
With the series now hanging in the balance, Team India will need to reassess their strategy. Will Kuldeep Yadav finally get a chance? His wrist spin could be lethal against an English side that has historically struggled against wrist spinners.
Karun Nair’s position will be under the scanner. A replacement might be on the cards unless the team management gives him one final go.
The fight is still on. The belief is intact. Lord’s was a missed opportunity, but redemption awaits.
Courtesy: Written by Sourabh Sanyal with the help of cricinfo and google as reference.