July 14, 2025: India vs England 3rd Test – The third Test between India and England is heading towards a thrilling finish, but the hosts have drawn first blood on the final day by removing KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant early in the morning session. Chasing a modest target of 193 runs at the iconic Lord’s, India now find themselves in deep trouble with their score teetering after the loss of two key batters.
Rishabh Pant was the first to fall, clean bowled by a fiery delivery from Jofra Archer that cut back sharply. The blow came early, unsettling India’s overnight hopes of a steady start. Soon after, Ben Stokes trapped KL Rahul leg before wicket, dealing a significant blow to India’s chase.
India had already suffered a dramatic collapse late on Day 4, finishing at 58/4, with top-order batters Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill, and nightwatchman Akash Deep back in the pavilion. The fifth day began with Rahul and Pant at the crease, offering a sliver of hope for the visitors. However, their early dismissals have handed momentum squarely back to England.
On Day 4, England’s second innings collapsed from 154/4 to 192 all out, with Washington Sundar producing a match-defining spell. His 4/22 in 12.1 overs marked the best figures by an Indian spinner in England in 23 years. He accounted for key wickets, including Joe Root and Ben Stokes, halting England’s progress and keeping India in the contest.
Despite the manageable target, variable bounce and sharp movement off the pitch have made batting treacherous. England’s bowlers, led by Archer and Stokes, have used the conditions brilliantly, consistently troubling the Indian batters.
As it stands, India require over 100 runs with just three wickets in hand. England, on the other hand, are just a few breakthroughs away from clinching a dramatic Test victory and taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
What’s Next: With pressure mounting and tensions rising, all eyes are now on the lower-order resistance and whether India can pull off a memorable win — or if England will seize the moment to level the historic rivalry at the Home of Cricket.