By Admin 
Lord’s holds a special place in K.L. Rahul’s heart. The last time he played a Test here, back in 2021, the opener went on to score a century and eventually paved the way for India’s convincing victory.
Four years later, he returned to the iconic venue with another 100 (177b, 13×4), and shared a 141-run stand for the fourth wicket with Rishabh Pant as India levelled England’s first innings total of 387.
Rahul and Pant led the foundation, while it was Ravindra Jadeja’s gritty 131-ball-72 (8×4, 1×6) that ensured there was nothing to separate between the two sides. To add to the ebb and flow of the third day’s play, India lost its last four wickets for just 11 runs and missed out on a first-innings lead.
England batted for one over and ended the day at two for no loss. Though things got a little heated at the fag end following the Indian fielders’ sarcastic applause after Zak Crawley suffered a blow on the hand, England will be happy with the way it bounced back.
As the wicket offered next to nothing in the opening session, a cautious Rahul showed exemplary discipline, before breaking the shackles.
In what was a near-flawless innings, Rahul tested the patience of the bowlers, while Pant (74, 112b, 8×4, 2×6), true to his reputation, played some cheeky shots despite nursing a left index finger injury.
Though Jofra Archer came up with his fastest spell in the second session to trouble the batters, he erred in his line early on. Pant made the most of it with a flick to the fine leg before dancing down the track to hit one over the infield. Archer, however, bounced back and consistently clocked 140kmph-plus deliveries as India could not score a single run off 31 deliveries.
Rahul eventually produced a flurry of boundaries, taking the attack to Brydon Chase. And once the pressure eased, Rahul and Pant backed their natural game to build on.
England changed the ball for a second time in a span of 11 overs, and captain Ben Stokes, who introduced himself into the attack, implemented the short-ball ploy.
While it did reduce the scoring rate, Pant took things in his stride and raced to a half-century by hooking a short one from Stokes over the long-leg ropes. He also eclipsed Vivian Richards’ record of most sixes (34) against England in Tests. England turned to spinner Shoaib Bashir, but Pant welcomed him with a six straight down the ground.
However, at the stroke of lunch, India slipped. Batting on 98, Rahul was eager to get back on strike and called for a risky single after Pant defended a Bashir delivery to the off-side. Sensing Pant’s hesitation, Ben Stokes ran in from covers and a direct throw at the non-striker’s end brought curtains on Pant’s gritty innings.
Soon after lunch, Rahul brought up his 10th hundred, but could not march on as he fell to Bashir off the next delivery.
The loss of two quick wickets put the pressure back on India, but Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy did not press the panic button. They survived at least three run-out chances to forge a 72-run stand.
Jadeja added another 50 runs along with Washington Sundar as India ended the day on level terms.