IND vs ENG 3rd Test Day 1: Nitish Reddy Shines at Lord’s as India Strikes Early
The historic Lord’s Cricket Ground witnessed an action-packed Day 1 of the third Test between India and England. With the series tied at 1-1, both teams came into the match with high expectations—and the opening day didn’t disappoint.
Toss and Playing XIs
England skipper Ben Stokes won the toss and opted to bat first, believing the early moisture wouldn’t last long and the pitch would ease up for batting. On the other side, Indian captain Shubman Gill admitted he was unsure what to do at the toss but said he would have preferred bowling.
India made one crucial change, bringing back pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah in place of Prasidh Krishna, while England made a single switch too.
India Playing XI:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (capt), Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
England Playing XI:
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir
Nitish Kumar Reddy Rocks Lord’s with Double Blow
It was a day to remember for Nitish Kumar Reddy, who turned the match on its head with two quick wickets. First, he dismissed Ben Duckett for 23 with a short ball that caught the glove—smartly taken by Pant behind the stumps. Then, just a few deliveries later, he sent Zak Crawley back for 18 with a back-of-length delivery that caught the edge.
🎯 England: 44/2 – and both openers gone within the same over. It was the perfect start for India after Stokes chose to bat first.
Siraj and Bumrah Keep the Pressure On
Mohammed Siraj was breathing fire, constantly beating the edge of the bat and creating pressure. His delivery to Ollie Pope, which was edged but dropped short of second slip, showed just how threatening he was.
Jasprit Bumrah, making his return, looked sharp as ever. His ability to generate bounce and movement made life difficult for the English top order. One loud LBW appeal against Crawley had the Indian team buzzing, but it just missed height.
A Historic Day for Sachin Tendulkar
Before the start of play, Lord’s witnessed a special moment. Sachin Tendulkar’s new portrait was unveiled at the MCC Museum, painted by renowned British artist Stuart Pearson Wright. The artwork features a close-up of Tendulkar, capturing his legacy in a modern, abstract style.
Sachin also had the honour of ringing the iconic five-minute bell at Lord’s—a tradition reserved for legends of the game. Speaking on the occasion, he recalled how watching Kapil Dev lift the 1983 World Cup sparked his dream to play cricket.
“With my portrait now at Lord’s, life feels like it’s come full circle,” Sachin shared.
Other Highlights
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The false shot percentage in the first 15 overs was 38.4%—the fifth-highest in England since 2006. It showed just how tough batting was early on.
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Akash Deep, who took 10 wickets in the previous Test, continued to impress with pace and control.
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England’s batters, especially Zak Crawley, tried to counterattack with aggressive footwork, but the pitch—offering movement and bounce—kept Indian bowlers in the game.
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Shubman Gill enters this match on the verge of multiple records, including breaking Sunil Gavaskar’s and Don Bradman’s Test captaincy run records.
What’s Next?
With two quick wickets on the board and the pitch still offering movement, Day 2 promises more excitement. India’s bowlers look fired up, and with Bumrah back, their attack looks complete.
Can England recover from this early blow? Or will India build on their strong start and take the upper hand in this crucial third Test?
Stay tuned for more updates!
📸 Bonus Moment:
A fun anecdote from Sunil Gavaskar’s 76th birthday celebration revealed how he once forgot his pass at Lord’s and had to sneak in with a mask—proving even legends have off days
Reference from:- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/ind-vs-eng-live-score-today-cricket-match-india-vs-england-3rd-test-match-day-1-scorecard-shubman-gill-rishabh-pant-jasprit-bumrah-harry-brook/liveblog/122359162.cms