India suffered a narrow defeat in the third Test against England at Lord’s, falling short by just 22 runs in a tense final session. Chasing a modest target of 193, India’s batting lineup collapsed under pressure, but a valiant effort from Ravindra Jadeja nearly turned the tide.
Jadeja remained unbeaten on 61 off 181 balls and stitched together crucial partnerships with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, keeping Indian hopes alive till the end.
England’s bowlers, led by Shoaib Bashir and returning pacer Jofra Archer, held their nerve in the final moments, eventually dismissing Siraj to seal the win and take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Captain Ben Stokes played a decisive all-round role throughout the Test, contributing with both bat and ball. The match was marked by high intensity and heated exchanges, with tempers flaring on multiple occasions.
The competitive nature of the game led commentators to dub it a “Bazbrawl,” reflecting a more combative version of England’s aggressive “Bazball” style. Former cricketers and analysts pointed to India’s fragile top and middle order as the root cause of the defeat.
Sunil Gavaskar remarked that even a 60-70 run partnership earlier in the innings could have changed the outcome. Nasser Hussain emphasized the absence of an experienced anchor like Virat Kohli to stabilize the innings under pressure.
Despite the loss, India’s fight-especially Jadeja’s gritty resistance-earned admiration from fans and experts alike. The closely contested match reaffirmed the enduring appeal of Test cricket, and attention now turns to the fourth Test as India looks to bounce back in the series.
