As the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London hosts the third Test of the fiercely contested England vs India series, anticipation is at fever pitch. The five-match series stands tantalizingly poised at 1-1, with both teams having showcased moments of dominance and vulnerability. India, fresh off a resounding 336-run victory in Birmingham, arrive at Lord’s with their confidence soaring and their eyes set on tilting the series in their favour. The historic venue, often dubbed the “Home of Cricket,” has been a challenging hunting ground for India, but recent years have witnessed a remarkable turnaround in their fortunes here. Amidst this high-stakes backdrop, one notable absence in India’s playing XI has drawn attention: that of pacer Prasidh Krishna.

Prasidh Krishna’s omission: A result of costly lessons

Krishna’s exclusion from the Lord’s Test is rooted in his underwhelming performance during the series opener at Headingley. Despite his ability to extract bounce and trouble batters, Krishna struggled with consistency and control, conceding runs at an unprecedented rate. He became the first bowler in Test history to give away more than a run a ball in both innings after bowling at least 15 overs in each, finishing with an economy rate of 6.28 across 35 overs—the most expensive by an Indian in Test history. While he did pick up five wickets in the match, his tendency to bowl too short and leak runs allowed England to maintain scoring momentum, which played a subtle yet significant role in India’s five-wicket defeat.

Krishna himself admitted his shortcomings, acknowledging that he failed to hit the right lengths and took “complete responsibility” for the loss. He reflected on his struggles to adapt to conditions and the slope at Headingley, vowing to improve and learn from the experience. However, with Jasprit Bumrah returning to the side after being rested for workload management, the team management opted for experience and control, leaving Krishna out of the Lord’s Test XI.

As captain Shubman Gill noted, “One change, Bumrah comes back in for Prasidh,” highlighting the strategic decision to bolster the bowling attack with a proven match-winner in conditions expected to favour seamers early on.

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India’s ambitions at Lord’s

India’s approach to the Lord’s Test is buoyed by their recent successes and a sense of unfinished business. Their historic win at Edgbaston, powered by Gill’s double century and a relentless pace attack led by Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep, has injected belief and momentum into the squad. The team’s improved record at Lord’s—two wins in their last three outings—serves as further motivation to rewrite their legacy at this storied venue.

The pitch at Lord’s is expected to offer assistance to fast bowlers, especially in the first session, making Bumrah’s return timely. Gill admitted to being “a bit confused” about what he would have done had he won the toss, acknowledging the wicket’s potential to “do something in the first session on Day 1.” The bowlers, he said, are “feeling pretty confident,” and the team is eager to capitalize on their recent form.

ENG vs IND: Playing XI of both teams

India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes(c), Jamie Smith(w), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

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