IND Vs ENG, 3rd Test Review: What Went Wrong For India At Lord's?

India’s brave resistance ended in heartbreak on Day 5 at Lord’s, as they lost the third Test by 22 runs in one of the most pulsating finishes in recent history. In a match that saw both teams post identical first-innings totals of 387, and momentum swing wildly over five days, England held their nerve — and India faltered just when they seemed to be inching toward the finish line.

The defeat handed England a 2-1 lead in the five match series of Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy and exposed several shortcomings in India’s performance. Here’s a breakdown of what went wrong:

1. Fragile Top Order Fails In The Fourth Innings

Chasing 193 on a wearing Day 4 pitch, India needed a steady start — but what they got was a collapse. At 58/4 by stumps on the penultimate day, the pressure had already mounted. Yashasvi Jaiswal fell early to Jofra Archer, and the dismissals of Karun Nair, Shubman Gill, and Akash Deep meant India’s hopes were reliant on the middle and lower order. The top-order’s failure to produce even a single 50-run stand proved decisive.

2. Missed Opportunities In First Innings Momentum

Despite matching England’s first innings total of 387, India had an opening to go ahead when KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant forged a 141-run partnership. At 248/3, they looked set for a lead, but a mix-up led to Pant’s run-out, triggering a collapse. India lost seven wickets for 139 runs and squandered what could have been a 50-60 run advantage — something Gill later acknowledged would have been crucial on this pitch.

3. Over-Reliance On Jadeja and Lower-Order Resilience

While Ravindra Jadeja’s fourth successive fifty in the series was a heroic effort — especially while shepherding the tail — India became overly reliant on his endurance. His partnerships with Bumrah and Siraj, though gutsy, shouldn’t have been the last line of resistance. The fact that India’s ninth-wicket stand lasted 131 balls yet still ended in defeat highlights how much pressure was transferred to the lower order, with little support from the top or middle.

4. Loss of Composure In Pressure Moments

From Pant’s run-out to Bumrah’s reckless hook shots, India lost key moments due to lapses in judgement. Bumrah’s 54-ball resistance was commendable, but his dismissal — attempting a hook against Stokes during another of the captain’s lion-hearted spells — invited criticism. Siraj’s bizarre end — padding a ball that spun back onto his stumps — was perhaps the most symbolic representation of a team that cracked under pressure.

5. Tactical And Emotional Missteps

England played the mind game better. The chirping from Harry Brook, the relentless energy from Stokes, and even Archer's animated celebration after dismissing Pant all added psychological pressure.

In contrast, India seemed to lose their mental bubble, as Monty Panesar noted, getting pulled into distractions and not focusing enough on what the match demanded. Even the bathroom-break moment with Jadeja hinted at the surreal levels of intensity England managed to create.

India will now head to Old Trafford for the fourth Test knowing the margin for error is razor-thin. While their resilience can’t be questioned, their inability to capitalise on key moments — and recurring batting collapses — might be their biggest concerns going forward in this finely balanced series.