The five-day theatrics of test cricket end on a sad note. The end that brings euphoria for England and agony for India. England won the match by 22 runs and survived the fight led by valiant Jadeja.
This match was simmering for the first 3 days. The last 5 minutes of day 3 were the moment the game started boiling. After being reduced to 58 on 4 at the stumps of day 4. England bowlers ripped through the Indian batting order and historically won the match.
A tug of war across five days
From the very first day, the match swung like a pendulum and kept the fans on edge. A rare incident happened in this test match, which makes it even more special. Both teams scored the same number of runs, 387 in the first innings. It happened only a few times in cricket.
We saw two brilliant centuries from the most experienced batters of each side, Root and Rahul. Wicket-keepers of both teams also showed consistency with the bat. Jamie Smith played a crucial 51-run knock. Pant kept his body on the line and played a defiant knock of 76 runs.
When the match turned into the second innings, England, after establishing a modest target of 192, found it difficult with the pitch deteriorating. The fourth and fifth days were nerve-wracking as India continued to lose wickets. Ravindra Jadeja’s example of stoic composure was hopeful. When India was getting underway, Shoaib Bashir’s bizarre dismissal sealed the win for England.
Stokes and Archer’s fiery spells ignited the desire to win
The 3rd Test at Lord’s saw Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer script a historical end to this match. Their marathon spells of over 24 and 16, respectively, made sure that India didn’t get the slightest of chances. Their commitment and determination are enough to tell about how fired up they were; they turned the match when it mattered the most.
Stokes delivered a masterclass in bowling and grabbed 5 wickets in the match that broke India’s backbone. Archer, making a comeback after 4 years in test format, rattled India’s top order with his lethal pace and precision. He showed why he has the support of his team and coaching staff every day. Their impact was central to England’s 22-run win over India.
Jadeja fought alone like a warrior
In the game where wickets were falling constantly, Jadeja withstood the deadly spells of Stokes and Archer. His unbeaten 61 runs were the ray of hope for India amid the clouds of England’s victory. He was on the verge of pulling off a miraculous win for India. No support from the other batters resulted in his heroics being in vain.
He got the spirited support from Siraj and Bumrah as India didn’t fall short due to courageous resistance from the bowlers. Bumrah faced 54 balls, the third highest for India in 2nd innings. Both fought back hard and took India deep into the last session of the day. The three stitched small but stubborn partnerships that reduced the target and lifted the hopes.
With 23 runs to win, Siraj was on the strike and he defended the Bashir’s ball like a proper test batter. You cannot middle a ball more perfectly than Siraj did. The ball got deflected, hit onto the stumps, and bizarrely ended the test.
From hope to heartbreak
Once again, India floundered in a low fourth-innings chase, a trend that’s worrying in recent overseas Tests. Even though there were glimpses of resistance, India failed to form the vital partnerships at the pressure moments.
India also suffered with 63 extras across the innings, which is unacceptable at any level of the game. They also dropped a few catches, which allowed England to cruise back. India’s defeat by 22 runs, which now puts them 2-1 down in the series, raised questions about India’s tactics in key moments.
Chasing under 200 should have been manageable, but India’s traditional fourth-innings collapses showed weaknesses with execution and temperament. The bowling unit showed promise in patches, but a troublesome lack of discipline in the field, as well as an apprehensive batting order, caused undoing. Unless these areas are addressable before Old Trafford, we are looking at the end of India’s Test series in England 2025.
Annsly Raena 
Soureesh Datta