India vs England 3rd Test Probable Playing XI, Match Preview and Key Insights

The third Test of the India vs England 2025 series, part of the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship, is set to unfold at Lord’s, London, from July 10–14, 2025. With England leading 1-0 after a five-wicket win at Headingley and India fighting back with a strong performance at Edgbaston, where they posted 587 in their first innings, the series is finely poised. This match at the “Home of Cricket” promises intense competition as India, led by Shubman Gill, aim to take the lead, while England, under Ben Stokes, look to consolidate their advantage. Here’s a detailed preview, including probable playing XIs, key players, and tactical insights.

Match Overview India vs england 3rd test

Date and Time: July 10–14, 2025, starting at 3:30 PM IST (toss at 3:00 PM IST).
Venue: Lord’s, London.
Context: England’s aggressive “Bazball” approach secured a 371-run chase in the first Test, but India responded at Edgbaston, with Shubman Gill’s 114* and a 244-run lead by Day 3. India’s bowling, weakened without Jasprit Bumrah in the second Test, will be bolstered by his likely return. England, buoyed by Jamie Smith’s 184* and a 303-run stand with Harry Brook, aim to exploit home conditions. The series is critical for both teams’ World Test Championship aspirations.
Live Streaming
India: Available on JioHotstar; TV broadcast on Sony Sports Network (Sony Sports 1/5 for English, Sony Sports 3 for Hindi).
England: Sky Sports

Pitch and Conditions India vs England 3rd test

Lord’s typically offers a balanced surface, with early seam movement for pacers, especially under cloudy skies, and some assistance for spinners later in the match. The pitch is expected to favor batting on Days 2 and 3, but the new ball could be decisive early on. Weather forecasts indicate a warm summer with a chance of rain on Days 4 and 5, potentially affecting strategies. Teams may prefer to bowl first, as Lord’s has seen the team batting second win three of the last five Tests.

Probable Playing XIs india vs england 3rd test

England

England have added Gus Atkinson to their squad for the third Test, but Jofra Archer’s absence continues due to a family emergency. They are likely to retain their unchanged XI from Edgbaston, relying on their aggressive batting and balanced bowling attack.

Probable Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.
Key Players:
Ben Duckett: His 149 in the first Test chase showcased his ability to dominate India’s bowlers, particularly Ravindra Jadeja.
Joe Root: Just 73 runs shy of 3,000 Test runs against India, Root’s experience at Lord’s (1,200+ runs) makes him a major threat.
Jamie Smith: His unbeaten 184 at Edgbaston, a record for an England wicketkeeper, adds depth and aggression to the lower order.
Chris Woakes: With 2/59 at Edgbaston and a stellar home record (137 wickets at 21.59), Woakes is England’s bowling linchpin.

India

India are expected to bring back Jasprit Bumrah, rested for the second Test, likely replacing Prasidh Krishna. The inclusion of Washington Sundar over Kuldeep Yadav at Edgbaston added batting depth, but Kuldeep’s wrist-spin could be preferred at Lord’s to counter England’s aggressive batting.

Probable Playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar/Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep.
Key Players:
Shubman Gill: Scoring centuries in both Tests (147 at Headingley, 114* at Edgbaston), Gill is India’s batting backbone and tactical leader.
Yashasvi Jaiswal: His 101 and 87 in the first two Tests highlight his form, though he struggled against spin in practice.
Rishabh Pant: With 134 and 118 in the first Test, plus a record 23 sixes in England Tests, Pant’s counter-attacking ability is crucial.
Jasprit Bumrah: Returning after being rested, Bumrah’s 5/83 at Headingley and 29 wickets at 16.75 since the Australia tour make him indispensable.
Ravindra Jadeja: Despite a lean bowling spell recently, his all-round contribution (41* at Edgbaston) and 2,000 runs/100 wickets in WTC history are vital.

Tactical Insights india vs england 3rd test

England’s Approach for india vs england 3rd test

England’s Bazball strategy, yielding six of their 17 successful 250+ chases under Stokes and McCullum, relies on aggressive batting to unsettle India’s bowlers. At Lord’s, they’ll target India’s seamers early, with Duckett and Crawley setting a fast tempo. Shoaib Bashir’s carrom ball and Stokes’ increased bowling workload (35+ overs in recent Tests) add variety, but their lack of a fifth bowler could strain Woakes and Carse if India bat long.

India’s Approach for india vs england 3rd test

India’s decision to rest Bumrah at Edgbaston was controversial, but his return strengthens their attack. The choice between Kuldeep Yadav’s wicket-taking wrist-spin and Washington Sundar’s batting depth will be pivotal. India’s fielding, which cost them six dropped catches at Headingley, must improve to counter England’s aggressive batsmen. Gill’s captaincy will focus on taking 20 wickets, as he emphasized post-Headingley: “You can’t win a Test match without taking 20 wickets.”

Key Battles to Watch in the india vs england 3rd test

Bumrah vs. Root: Bumrah has dismissed Root nine times in Tests, but Root’s form at Lord’s could make this a defining contest.
Jaiswal vs. Bashir: Jaiswal’s struggles against spin in practice could be exploited by Bashir’s variations.
Pant vs. Woakes: Pant’s aggressive batting against Woakes’ disciplined line could dictate India’s middle-order momentum.

Prediction for india vs england 3rd test

With Bumrah’s return, India’s bowling gains an edge, but England’s home advantage and Bazball flair make them formidable. If India can tighten their fielding and leverage their spinners, they could exploit Lord’s late turn to take the lead. However, England’s aggressive batting and familiarity with conditions make a draw or an England win more likely unless India’s top order fires again.

For the latest updates, follow the match on JioHotstar or Sony Sports Network. Who do you think will dominate at Lord’s?