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Cricket fans are in for a treat as the India vs England 2025 Test series heads into its third match at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. The five-Test series stands perfectly balanced at 1-1: England clinched the first Test, while India bounced back strongly to win the second. Now, all eyes are on the Lord’s Test starting July 10.
Both teams look strong and confident, but Lord’s has always been a ground where England hold the edge. Their players know these conditions well, having played countless matches here. In contrast, the Indian team has relatively less experience at Lord’s. However, senior players like KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant have faced the Lord’s challenge before and will be key in guiding the younger squad members.
England won the toss and chose to bowl first a decision that could prove crucial. The return of Jofra Archer to the England lineup adds real firepower to their bowling attack. Alongside him are Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, and young spinner Shoaib Bashir, giving England a balanced attack suited for home conditions.
India’s bowling unit looks equally dangerous with the return of star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, supported by Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep. Spin options come in the form of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, who can also contribute with the bat.
Here are the playing XIs for the 3rd Test at Lord’s:
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir.
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
The Lord’s pitch this time is tricky to predict. Early reports say the surface is flat and slow, but it also has some uneven bounce. Some deliveries stay low while others rise unexpectedly. As the match goes on, the pitch could change character, offering spinners more help or even becoming two-paced, making batting harder on the later days.
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England’s familiarity with these conditions might give them an advantage, but India’s young squad, boosted by experienced heads like Rahul, Pant, and Bumrah, are ready to put up a fight. Skipper Shubman Gill will be eager to prove his leadership skills, while Ben Stokes hopes his bowling lineup can exploit any early help from the pitch.
The series so far has been tightly contested, and the third Test at Lord’s promises to be another thriller. Will England’s home advantage and Archer’s return tilt the balance? Or can India overcome the challenge and take a 2-1 lead?
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