Just a day before the final drama unfolded at Lord’s, Washington Sundar had confidently said that India would “definitely win” the third Test, and maybe even before lunch. It was a bold call.
But when the sun set over London on July 14, it was England, not India, celebrating a gritty 22-run win that turned the five-match series 2-1 in their favour.
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Despite a spirited effort by Ravindra Jadeja and the Indian tail, it was a game that slowly slipped away, session by session, from the visitors’ grasp.
What exactly did Sundar say before the final day began?
After a match-turning spell of 4/22 on Day 4, Sundar appeared brimming with belief in India’s chances. Speaking to Sky Sports with a smile, he declared, “Definitely India winning tomorrow.” And when asked for a more precise prediction, he added, “Probably just after lunch.”
Sundar was coming off a brilliant performance, having cleaned up England’s middle-order, including key names like Joe Root, Jamie Smith, and Ben Stokes and wrapping up their innings for 192.
With India needing 193 to win and sitting at 58/4 at stumps on Day 4, he felt the game was there for the taking. But cricket, especially at Lord’s, has a way of humbling confidence. Day 5 proved just that.
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How did England turn things around on Day 5?
India began the day needing 135 more runs with six wickets in hand. But before they could even settle in, the English pace duo of Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes tore through the middle-order.
Rishabh Pant was cleaned up by Archer, KL Rahul was trapped by a perfect nip-backer from Stokes, and Sundar was dismissed by a stunning return catch off Archer’s bowling.
Within a matter of four overs, India had lost 3 wickets for just 11 runs. From 58/4, they crashed to 82/7. Jadeja and Nitish Reddy tried to stitch things together with a 30-run stand.
After Reddy fell before lunch, Bumrah stepped up to support Jadeja, and the pair added 35 crucial runs. But even their resistance couldn’t stop the inevitable. Jadeja reached his fourth straight fifty of the series and carried India’s hopes deep into the final session, but the finish belonged to England.
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What’s next in the series?
England now lead the series 2-1 heading into the fourth Test, which begins on July 23 at Old Trafford, Manchester. After such a close defeat, India will need to regroup quickly if they hope to level the series and keep their hopes alive.