Cricket returned to the historic Lord’s Ground with the India vs England 3rd Test Day 1, and the match kicked off classically. The crowd was buzzing, the pitch looked good for batting, and expectations were high. As it turned out, Day 1 had a little bit of everything: quick wickets, patient partnerships, drama, and resilience.
To begin with, India made a dream start. Young pacer Nitish Kumar Reddy caught everyone off guard by claiming two crucial wickets in just one over. He started by sending Zak Crawley packing for 18 runs. Then, just a few balls later, he got Ben Duckett out for 23. Suddenly, England found themselves in trouble at 43 for 2. It was a perfect example of how quickly the game can turn.
At this point, Indian fans were hopeful. The bowlers were on fire, and the fielders looked sharp. Captain Shubman Gill made a clever move by bringing Reddy into the attack, and it worked wonders.
However, Joe Root and Ollie Pope had other plans. They didn’t panic. Instead, they focused on playing simple, risk-free cricket. Gradually, they built a solid partnership. Pope rotated the strike well, while Root looked as classy as ever. Their calm and composed batting helped England recover before the tea break. By now, the match had shifted gears. The momentum was moving toward England, and India needed a breakthrough.
Thankfully, India found that breakthrough just after tea. Ravindra Jadeja bowled a smart delivery to dismiss Ollie Pope for 44. Soon after, Jasprit Bumrah delivered a sharp, swinging ball that sent Harry Brook back to the pavilion for just 11 runs. These two quick wickets brought India right back into the game.
But once again, England showed character. Joe Root stayed unbeaten at 99*, playing some lovely shots around the ground. He was just one run short of a century by the end of the day. Alongside him, Ben Stokes provided strong support, remaining not out on 39.
England’s 1st Inning Score Summary – Day 1
| Runs | Wickets | Top Batsmen | Bowling Figures |
| 251 | 4wk (83ov) | Root 99*, Stokes 39* | Reddy 2/46, Bumrah 1/35, Jadeja 1/26 |
Apart from the runs and wickets, the day had a few unexpected moments too. There was a brief pause when insects swarmed the field, causing some chaos. Also, Rishabh Pant was not present on the ground, raising concerns about a possible finger injury.
Meanwhile, England’s approach was interesting. They didn’t go all out with aggressive “Bazball” tactics. Instead, they chose a more cautious and patient route, playing each ball on merit. It showed how much this Test match meant to them.
India, on the other hand, bowled with a lot of discipline. They didn’t let England run away with the game. Even though Root looked in control, the bowlers kept things tight, especially in the final session.
Looking ahead, Day 2 will be crucial. England will hope Joe Root gets to his hundred quickly and helps post a big total. India, however, will aim to break the partnership early and take control of the game. All in all, India vs England 3rd Test Day 1 turned out to be a tight battle between patience and pressure. And if Day 1 was any indication, we’re in for a thrilling Test match at Lord’s.
