The hallowed turf of Lord’s, the “Home of Cricket,” bore witness to a pulsating chapter in the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy as India and England clashed in the 3rd Test from July 10-14, 2025. With the five-match series locked at 1-1 after India’s emphatic 336-run victory at Edgbaston, this match was a pivotal moment in the 2023-2025 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. At the heart of India’s campaign was Akash Deep, the fiery pacer from Sasaram, Bihar, whose relentless bowling and fearless spirit turned the tide in a match that swung like the Dukes ball under Lord’s cloudy skies. His heroics, combined with Shubman Gill’s tactical acumen and India’s batting depth, defined a thrilling contest that kept fans on the edge until the final day.
Match Context: A Series on the Line
After England’s five-wicket chase of 371 at Headingley and India’s record-breaking triumph at Edgbaston—where Akash Deep’s 10-wicket haul (6/99 in the second innings) and Shubman Gill’s 430 runs stole the show—the 3rd Test was a battle for series supremacy. India welcomed back Jasprit Bumrah, rested at Edgbaston to manage his workload, forming a lethal pace trio with Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj. England, stung by their collapse against India’s pacers, added Gus Atkinson to their squad, hoping his seam movement would exploit Lord’s slope and swing-friendly conditions. With both teams vying for crucial WTC points, the stage was set for a classic.
Day 1: India’s Batters Set the Tone
England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bowl, banking on early moisture and overcast skies. However, India’s top order, led by Shubman Gill’s masterful 112, weathered the storm. Yashasvi Jaiswal (62) and KL Rahul (47) provided a solid start, reaching 92/1 by lunch. Akash Deep, batting at No. 9, chipped in with a gritty 19, including a lofted cover drive off Jofra Archer that drew cheers from the Indian contingent. India posted 362/8 by stumps, with Ravindra Jadeja’s unbeaten 54 anchoring the lower order. England’s bowlers, led by Atkinson (3/94), toiled, but the softening Dukes ball and a flattening pitch limited their breakthroughs.
Day 2: Akash Deep Ignites India’s Fightback
India were bowled out for 389 early on Day 2, with Jadeja falling for 67 to Shoaib Bashir’s spin. Akash Deep, opening the bowling with Bumrah, set the tone with a fiery spell. From the Pavilion End, he dismissed Zak Crawley (11) with a searing outswinger that kissed the edge to Rishabh Pant. His next victim, Ollie Pope (23), was trapped lbw by a skidding in-ducker, a delivery that exploited the Lord’s slope. By lunch, England were reeling at 88/3, with Joe Root (29*) and Harry Brook (15*) clinging on.
Akash’s figures of 2/31 in his first spell drew praise from India’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel, who noted his ability to hit “hard lengths” suited to UK conditions. England fought back through a 124-run stand between Root (87) and Brook (92), but Akash returned to break the partnership, bowling Brook with a full-length beauty that nipped back to hit off-stump. England ended Day 2 at 311/6, trailing by 78, with Jamie Smith (44*) and Chris Woakes (12*) unbeaten. Akash’s 3/76 kept India in control, though England’s resilience hinted at a brewing counterattack.
Day 3: England’s Fight and India’s Response
England’s lower order wagged, with Smith scoring a defiant 102 and Brydon Carse adding 41. Akash Deep struck early, removing Woakes (19) with a rising short ball that looped to gully. His fourth wicket came when Smith edged a wide outswinger to Pant, giving Akash figures of 4/112 as England were bowled out for 412, taking a slender 23-run lead. Social media buzzed with excitement, with one X post calling Akash “the soul of India’s pace attack at Lord’s.”
India’s second innings began shakily, losing Jaiswal (14) to Archer’s bouncer. However, Gill (77) and Rishabh Pant’s explosive 89 off 96 balls, including three sixes off Bashir, propelled India to 264/4 by stumps, leading by 241. Pant’s audacious reverse-sweep against Root drew gasps, while Gill’s calm cover drives steadied the ship. England’s bowlers struggled as the pitch eased, and India’s aggressive intent set an imposing target.
Day 4: Akash Deep’s Fire Shakes England
India declared at 428/7 before lunch, with Jadeja (62*) and Washington Sundar (38) accelerating. The lead of 405 set England a daunting chase, especially with Lord’s offering variable bounce. Akash Deep was relentless, striking in his first over to dismiss Ben Duckett (8) with a peach that seamed away to first slip. Joe Root (14) fell to Akash’s in-swinger, bowled through the gate in a moment reminiscent of his Edgbaston heroics. By tea, England were 102/4, with Harry Brook (33*) and Ben Stokes (20*) battling.
Post-tea, Akash delivered the knockout blow, trapping Stokes (37) lbw with a full-length ball that jagged back sharply. His figures of 3/45 by stumps, with England at 219/6 (Smith 49*, Carse 10), left India needing four wickets on the final day. X posts hailed Akash’s “unplayable seam movement,” with one user noting, “He’s made Lord’s his own stage!” India’s spinners, Jadeja and Sundar, complemented Akash, keeping the pressure on a faltering England.
Day 5: Akash Seals India’s Triumph
Rain delayed play by 45 minutes, but Akash Deep resumed his onslaught,
Last Updated on: Monday, July 7, 2025 10:50 am by Puneeth Kamalapuram | Published by: Puneeth Kamalapuram on Monday, July 7, 2025 10:50 am | News Categories: News
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