Rahul’s Ton and Stokes’ Brilliance: Lord’s Test Hangs in Balance on Dramatic Day 3 of India vs. England 3rd Test
London,/Patiala, 13 July (Sports Desk)
On July 12, 2025, the third day of the third Test match between India and England at Lord’s, London, delivered high-octane cricket as India matched England’s first-innings total of 387, only for England to edge ahead with a 2-run lead at stumps (England 2/0). KL Rahul’s stylish 100, Rishabh Pant’s gritty 74, and Ravindra Jadeja’s resolute 72 headlined India’s batting, while Ben Stokes’ athletic run-out and Jofra Archer’s fiery bowling kept England in the fight. A tense final over, marked by time-wasting tactics and a heated exchange between Shubman Gill and Zak Crawley, set the stage for a thrilling Day 4. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the action-packed day in the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship series.
Match Context
The five-match series, tied at 1-1 after India’s 336-run win at Edgbaston, saw both teams vying for a crucial lead at Lord’s, where India have historically struggled, winning only three of 19 Tests. England, led by Ben Stokes, opted to bat first on a slow pitch with some seam movement, posting 387. India resumed Day 3 at 145/3, trailing by 242 runs, with KL Rahul (53*) and Rishabh Pant (19*) at the crease. The day featured intense battles, individual milestones, and strategic shifts, with both sides locked in a first-innings tie.
India’s First Innings: Rahul’s Century and Late Collapse
India began Day 3 at 145/3 after 43 overs, with Rahul and Pant tasked with narrowing the 242-run deficit. The morning session was dominated by India, who added 103 runs in 22.3 overs for the loss of just one wicket, reaching 248/4 at lunch. The Rahul-Pant partnership flourished, amassing a commanding 141 runs for the fourth wicket, blunting England’s attack with disciplined batting and occasional flair.
- Rahul’s Milestone: KL Rahul, resuming on 53, played a masterful innings, reaching his 10th Test century (100 off 177 balls, 13 fours) and becoming only the second Indian after Dilip Vengsarkar to score multiple hundreds at Lord’s. His elegant flicks and a standout backfoot punch off Brydon Carse were highlights, though he fell immediately after his century to Shoaib Bashir, caught at slip.
- Pant’s Gritty Counter-Attack: Rishabh Pant, battling a finger injury sustained while keeping on Day 2, scored a valiant 74 (112 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes). His trademark aggression shone through with a hooked six off Ben Stokes to reach his fifty and a massive six off Bashir over long-off. However, a moment of miscommunication led to his run-out just before lunch, courtesy of Stokes’ sharp fielding, as Pant attempted a risky single to help Rahul reach his ton.
- Stokes’ Game-Changing Run-Out: With India cruising at 248/3, Ben Stokes pounced on a loose shot from Pant, swooping in from cover, spinning, and hitting the bowler’s end stumps directly to dismiss Pant. The celebration was charged with emotion, shifting momentum as India slipped to 254/5 soon after with Rahul’s dismissal.
Post-lunch, Ravindra Jadeja (72 off 140 balls) anchored the innings, forging a gritty 72-run partnership with Nitish Kumar Reddy (30). Jadeja’s third consecutive Test fifty included a delightful six off Joe Root, but he fell to Chris Woakes in the final session, triggering a late collapse. Washington Sundar (20*) and the tail battled to level the scores, but Woakes (3/84) and Stokes (2 wickets) ensured India were bowled out for 387 in 119.2 overs, matching England’s total. A dropped catch by Bashir off Jadeja and time-wasting tactics by England added drama, with India frustrated by a ball change after the second new ball lost shape.
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England’s Second Innings: Tense Final Over
With six minutes remaining, England began their second innings, facing one over from Jasprit Bumrah. Zak Crawley (2*) and Ben Duckett (0*) survived a testing over, but not without controversy. Crawley’s deliberate delays, including pulling away from Bumrah’s run-up and requesting physio attention for his glove, irked the Indian team. Shubman Gill, visibly frustrated, shouted from the slips and gestured towards the pavilion, with sarcastic applause from the Indian fielders. The tactics ensured only one over was bowled, leaving England at 2/0, leading by 2 runs at stumps.
Key Moments of Day 3
- Rahul’s Historic Century: KL Rahul’s 100 (177 balls) made him the second Indian to score multiple Lord’s centuries, anchoring India’s fightback with a 141-run stand with Pant.
- Pant’s Run-Out Drama: Ben Stokes’ athletic direct hit to dismiss Pant (74) just before lunch was a turning point, ending a dominant partnership and sparking a mini-collapse.
- Jadeja’s Resilience: Ravindra Jadeja’s 72, including a six off Root, and a 72-run stand with Reddy kept India in contention, though his dismissal to Woakes triggered the tail’s collapse.
- Ball Change Controversy: India’s frustration boiled over when the second new ball was replaced after losing shape, leading to heated exchanges between Gill, umpires Paul Reiffel and Sharfuddoula, and commentator Ravi Shastri criticizing the time wastage.
- Archer’s Fiery Spell: Jofra Archer, returning after over four years, bowled at 90+ mph, troubling Pant with his pace and bounce, though he took no wickets on Day 3.
- Crawley-Gill Face-Off: The final over saw tensions flare as Crawley’s time-wasting tactics drew ire from Gill and the Indian team, with sarcastic claps and verbal exchanges adding spice to Day 4’s buildup.
- First-Innings Tie: Both teams scoring 387 marked the ninth instance of equal first-innings totals in Test history, with the fifth-highest such total, historically favoring a draw.
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Player Performances
- KL Rahul (India): 100 (177 balls, 13 fours), a stylish century that anchored India’s innings, making him the second Indian with multiple Lord’s hundreds.
- Rishabh Pant (India): 74 (112 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes), a counter-attacking knock despite a finger injury, ended by a run-out.
- Ravindra Jadeja (India): 72 (140 balls, 1 six), a gritty fifty that kept India in the game, supported by a 72-run stand with Reddy.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy (India): 30, played a supporting role to Jadeja, helping reduce the deficit.
- Washington Sundar (India): 20*, fought to level the scores but fell to Archer’s trap in the final overs.
- Chris Woakes (England): 3/84, dismissed Jadeja and Bumrah, breaking key partnerships to keep England in control.
- Ben Stokes (England): 2 wickets and a spectacular run-out of Pant, his athleticism and leadership shifted momentum.
- Jofra Archer (England): 0 wickets but bowled at 93-94 mph, troubling India’s batsmen with pace and bounce.
- Shoaib Bashir (England): 1 wicket (Rahul), dismissed the centurion but dropped a tough chance off Jadeja.
- Zak Crawley (England): 2* in the second innings, survived Bumrah’s testing over amid time-wasting controversy.
Strategic Highlights
India’s strategy focused on Rahul and Pant’s partnership to erase the deficit, with Rahul anchoring and Pant counter-attacking despite his injury. The 141-run stand neutralized England’s bowlers, but Pant’s run-out and Rahul’s quick dismissal post-lunch shifted momentum. Jadeja and Reddy’s cautious approach aimed to match England’s total, but Stokes’ relentless short-ball tactics (26 bouncers in a seven-over spell) and Woakes’ breakthroughs exposed the tail. England’s time-wasting in the final over, led by Crawley, was a tactical move to limit India’s bowling time, though it sparked tension. The pitch, offering some seam movement but flattening out, favored disciplined bowling, which both teams exploited.
Pitch and Conditions
The Lord’s pitch remained slow but offered occasional seam movement and bounce, as seen in Stokes’ and Archer’s spells. Spinners, including Joe Root, extracted more turn on Day 3 (Root averaging the most turn among spinners), but pacers dominated due to the lack of consistent spin assistance. A clear, dry forecast allowed a full day’s play, though heat and multiple stoppages led to 10 overs lost, contributing to a session’s worth of time lost over three days due to slow over-rates.
Statistical Milestones
- KL Rahul: Second Indian after Dilip Vengsarkar to score multiple Test centuries at Lord’s.
- Rishabh Pant: His 88th Test six brought him two short of Virender Sehwag’s Indian record for most Test sixes.
- First-Innings Tie: The 387-all-out tie was the ninth instance in Test history, with all four higher such totals ending in draws.
- Ben Stokes: His run-out of Pant was a testament to his athleticism, while his 90mph bowling marked a strong return post-hamstring surgery.
- Slow Over-Rates: Over 10 overs lost on Day 3 due to stoppages, a recurring issue in the series, exacerbated by heat and tactical delays. Looking Ahead
With both teams level at 387 and England leading by 2 runs (2/0), the Test is finely poised for Day 4. India will aim for early wickets to limit England’s lead, with Bumrah and Akash Deep key to exploiting morning conditions. England, with Crawley and Duckett at the crease, will look to build a substantial lead, banking on Root and Stokes to capitalize on a flattening pitch. Pant’s finger injury remains a concern, with Dhruv Jurel likely to continue as a substitute keeper. A forecast for light rain on Days 4 and 5 could play a role, but the match’s balance suggests a result is possible if either team seizes momentum.
Scorecard Summary
- England 1st Innings: 387 all out (112.3 overs)
- Joe Root: 104
- Harry Brook: 88
- Jamie Smith: 51
- Brydon Carse: 56
- Jasprit Bumrah: 5/74
- Nitish Kumar Reddy: 2 wickets
- India 1st Innings: 387 all out (119.2 overs)
- KL Rahul: 100 (177 balls, 13 fours)
- Rishabh Pant: 74 (112 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes)
- Ravindra Jadeja: 72 (140 balls, 1 six)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy: 30
- Chris Woakes: 3/84
- Ben Stokes: 2 wickets
- England 2nd Innings: 2/0 (1 over)
- Zak Crawley: 2*
- Ben Duckett: 0*
- England lead by: 2 runs
- Day 3 at Lord’s was a rollercoaster of skill, drama, and tension, with Rahul’s century, Pant’s bravery, and Stokes’ brilliance ensuring the Test remains a knife-edge contest. With two days left, the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy is up for grabs in this enthralling battle.
