England vs India 3rd Test 2025, Day 4: Recap & Highlights

July 13, 2025

Day 4 of the third Test at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London, on July 13, 2025, was a rollercoaster of momentum shifts in the 2025–2027 ICC World Test Championship. England, starting with a 2-run lead, were bowled out for 192 in their second innings, setting India a target of 193. India’s chase faltered early, ending the day at 58/4, needing 135 more runs with six wickets in hand. Washington Sundar’s four-wicket haul and Mohammed Siraj’s fiery bowling gave India hope, but England’s late strikes, led by Brydon Carse, tilted the balance back. Shubman Gill’s fiery exchange with Zak Crawley from Day 3 carried over, adding intensity to a match poised for a thrilling finale. This blog recaps the key moments, performances, and insights from Day 4, drawing from live updates and post-match reports.

Day 4 Recap

Day 4 at Lord’s saw England’s second innings collapse to 192, thanks to India’s disciplined bowling, led by Washington Sundar and Mohammed Siraj. India’s chase of 193 got off to a shaky start, with England’s bowlers, particularly Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer, striking to leave India at 58/4. The match remains evenly balanced, with India needing 135 runs and England hunting six wickets on a pitch offering pace and bounce.

Morning Session: India’s Bowlers Dominate

England resumed at 2/0, but India’s bowlers struck early. Mohammed Siraj dismissed Ben Duckett (0) and Ollie Pope (8), while Nitish Kumar Reddy removed Zak Crawley (22). Akash Deep’s dismissal of Harry Brook (23) left England at 98/4 at lunch, leading by 98 runs. Washington Sundar’s introduction turned the tide, with his spin exploiting the pitch’s turn to keep England under pressure [CNN News18,; Reuters Sports,].

Afternoon Session: Sundar’s Spin and England’s Collapse

Post-lunch, Sundar dismissed Joe Root (40) and Jamie Smith in quick succession, finishing with 4/13. Jasprit Bumrah and Siraj chipped in, bowling England out for 192 in 62.1 overs. India’s fielding, bolstered by Dhruv Jurel’s keeping in place of the injured Rishabh Pant, was sharp. England’s lead of 192 set India a challenging but achievable target of 193. At tea, England were 175/6, leading by 175 runs, with India firmly in control [Firstpost Sports,; CricketNDTV,].

Evening Session: India’s Chase Stumbles

India’s chase began disastrously, with Yashasvi Jaiswal (4) falling to Jofra Archer and Karun Nair (0) to Brydon Carse. Shubman Gill (6) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (8) fell to Stokes and Carse, respectively, leaving India at 58/4 at stumps. KL Rahul’s unbeaten 33 offered hope, but England’s bowlers, exploiting the pitch’s bounce, regained momentum. The session was marked by fiery exchanges, with Gill’s Day 3 spat with Crawley still simmering [Indian Express,; NDTV Sports,].

Key Performances

Washington Sundar (4/13): His spin bowling dismantled England’s middle order, shifting the game in India’s favor [Firstpost Sports,].
Mohammed Siraj (2 wickets): Struck early to remove Duckett and Pope, setting the tone for India’s dominance [BCCI,].
KL Rahul (33)*: Showed resilience in India’s chase, remaining unbeaten despite early losses [NDTV Sports,].
Brydon Carse (2 wickets): His fiery spell in the evening session dismissed Nair and Reddy, putting England back in the game [Indian Express,].
Jofra Archer (1 wicket): Removed Jaiswal early, continuing his impactful return to Test cricket [NDTV Sports,].

Challenges

Rishabh Pant’s Injury: Pant’s finger injury forced Dhruv Jurel to keep wickets, potentially weakening India’s batting [Outlook India,].
Shoaib Bashir’s Fitness: Bashir’s finger injury left England reliant on their seamers, with his bowling availability uncertain for Day 5 [NDTV Sports,].
Shubman Gill’s Aggression: Gill’s confrontation with Crawley drew criticism from Jonathan Trott for setting a poor tone as captain [Outlook India,].
Pitch Conditions: The Lord’s pitch, offering uneven bounce and turn, challenged both teams, making India’s chase tricky [Indian Express,].

Key Commentary Quotes

Commentator	Platform	Statement
Ravi Shastri	[Sky Sports Cricket,]	“I’d have done all that too, a bit of argy-bargy is okay! This match is a proper Test cricket shootout now.”
Jonathan Trott	[Outlook India,]	“I don’t like the acting from Shubman Gill, as a captain you set the tone. Pointing fingers isn’t ideal.”
Nasser Hussain	[BBC Sport,]	“Sundar’s spell was the game-changer today, but England’s late strikes make Day 5 a coin toss.”
Cheteshwar Pujara	[Outlook India,]	“The pitch is 20% slower than Edgbaston, but the bounce is uneven. Rahul needs to anchor this chase.”

Commentary Analysis

Ravi Shastri on Intensity: Shastri’s comment reflects the fiery atmosphere, endorsing the competitive edge while highlighting the match’s balance [Sky Sports Cricket,].
Jonathan Trott on Gill: Trott’s critique of Gill’s confrontation suggests a need for composure, setting up a narrative for Day 5 [Outlook India,].
Nasser Hussain on Sundar: Hussain’s praise for Sundar underscores his pivotal role, while noting England’s late fightback [BBC Sport,].
Cheteshwar Pujara on Pitch: Pujara’s analysis highlights the pitch’s challenges, emphasizing Rahul’s role in India’s chase [Outlook India,].

Key Player Quotes

Player	Platform	Statement
KL Rahul	[ESPNcricinfo,]	“The rush for my century led to Pant’s run-out. We need to stay calm and build partnerships tomorrow.”
Ben Stokes	[BBC Sport,]	“We’ve got them four down, and this pitch is doing enough. We’re right in this game.”
Washington Sundar	[Firstpost Sports,]	“The turn was there, and I just focused on hitting the right areas. We’ve got a chance.”
Shubman Gill	[Outlook India,]	“We’re here to fight, not back down. We’ll come out strong tomorrow.”

Player Quote Analysis

KL Rahul’s Reflection: Rahul’s admission of his role in Pant’s run-out shows accountability, with a focus on partnerships for Day 5 [ESPNcricinfo,].
Ben Stokes on Momentum: Stokes’ confidence highlights England’s resurgence with the ball, setting up a tense final day [BBC Sport,].
Washington Sundar’s Strategy: Sundar’s comment reflects his disciplined approach, exploiting the pitch’s turn to great effect [Firstpost Sports,].
Shubman Gill’s Defiance: Gill’s statement reinforces his aggressive leadership, despite criticism, as India prepare for a crucial day [Outlook India,].

Match Situation at Stumps

At stumps on Day 4, India were 58/4, needing 135 runs to win, with KL Rahul (33*) and Ravindra Jadeja at the crease. England, bowled out for 192, lead by 134 runs and need six wickets. The match is finely poised, with the pitch’s uneven bounce and turn favoring bowlers, but India’s batting depth keeps them in contention.

Looking Ahead to Day 5

Day 5 promises a thrilling conclusion, with India needing 135 runs and England six wickets. KL Rahul’s composure and Jadeja’s all-round ability will be key for India, while England will rely on Archer and Carse to exploit the pitch. The fitness of Pant and Bashir remains a concern, and Gill’s leadership will be under scrutiny after his fiery exchanges. With the series tied at 1-1, the outcome at Lord’s could shift the momentum.

Conclusion

Day 4 of the India vs England 3rd Test at Lord’s was a tale of two halves, with India’s bowlers, led by Washington Sundar, dominating England’s second innings, only for England’s pacers to strike back in India’s chase. KL Rahul’s resilience keeps India alive, but England’s late wickets give them a slight edge. Commentators like Ravi Shastri and Nasser Hussain captured the day’s intensity, while players like Stokes and Gill set the stage for a dramatic Day 5. As the series hangs in the balance, Lord’s is set for a fitting climax.

Citations:

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