India’s Fightback: Matching England Blow for Blow at Lord’s

Day 3 at Lord's is where cricket turns into pure drama. India walked out onto the pitch facing England's big first-innings total of 387. Pressure? Definitely. Did they crack? Not even close. KL Rahul controlled India's gritty reply, putting up a classic century—his 12th in Tests. He built the innings with patience, seeing off tricky early overs and driving confidently whenever the bowlers missed their spots.

The real spark, though, came when Rishabh Pant joined Rahul. Pant, always aggressive, mixed smart singles with some bold shots. His 74 kept the scoreboard ticking and made life tough for the English quicks. But the drama wasn’t just about runs. England’s bowlers, especially Chris Woakes (3/84) and Jofra Archer (2/67), knew how to come back fighting. After Pant edged one and Rahul finally fell for a round 100, wickets tumbled. The crowd at Lord’s sensed a collapse was coming.

But Ravindra Jadeja, cool under pressure, partnered with the rookie Nitish Reddy. They refused to give up, digging in while the English bowlers tried everything. Jadeja did what he does best—rotated strike, punished loose balls, and stayed unbeaten on 72. Reddy, showing maturity beyond his years, hung on, and together they wiped out England’s lead. Their 62-run stand gave India a huge psychological boost as the visitors matched England’s 387 after 110.2 overs.

Tempers Rise as England Grab Narrow Lead

With the scores level, the match basically hit reset. England padded up for their second innings, with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett opening. The two faced just a couple of balls before stumps. But what stole the limelight wasn’t a flashy shot or a fiery yorker—it was a tense exchange. Shubman Gill, fired up, confronted Crawley about slow, time-wasting tactics. The umpires had to step in, and you could feel the tension in the air as players walked off.

Fans love moments like this—when emotions bubble over and both sides refuse to give an inch. England technically leads by just 2 runs, but the pressure’s on them to set a target India can’t chase. With the pitch flattening but still offering some help to bowlers, all results remain possible. The stage is set for a high-octane finish—and neither side seems ready to blink first.

• IND vs ENG battles are rarely predictable, and Day 3 at Lord’s proved exactly why these two teams create such compelling Test cricket.
• England’s bowlers showed guts just when it seemed India might storm ahead.
• India’s middle and lower order delivered when it mattered most, keeping hopes alive.
• On-field heat, amazing individual efforts, and a razor-thin two-run margin—this is Test cricket at its peak.