In a heart-stopping finish at Lord’s, England captain Ben Stokes summoned every ounce of his resolve to lead his team to a dramatic 22-run win over India in the third Test on Monday, giving the hosts a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.Score: India vs England 3rd TestIndia, chasing 193, were staring at defeat at 147 for 9 when last man Mohammed Siraj joined a stoic Ravindra Jadeja (61*). The duo resisted valiantly after tea, taking India tantalisingly close to an improbable victory before Shoaib Bashir — who had spent much of the match off-field with a finger injury — bowled Siraj to seal the win with the narrowest of margins.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Jadeja, not out on his fourth straight fifty of the series, was left stranded, having carried India’s hopes almost singlehandedly after they slumped to 112 for 8.
It was a match befitting the grandeur of Lord’s, and at its centre was Stokes — the warrior, the captain, the match-winner. His contribution: 3 for 48 in the second innings, crucial middle-order knocks of 44 and 33, and a game-changing direct-hit run-out of Rishabh Pant in India’s first innings.
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For his all-round heroics, Stokes was named Player of the Match — his fourth Man of the Match award at Lord’s, the most by any player at the iconic venue.Fourth Player of the Match award for Ben Stokes at Lord’s
- 193 runs & 3 wkts vs NZ in 2015
- 60 runs & 6 wkts vs WI in 2017
- 128 runs vs Aus in 2019
- 77 runs & 5 wkts vs Ind in 2025
Speaking at the post-match presentation, a visibly drained but elated Stokes said: “Bowling to win a Test match for your country… If that doesn’t get you going, I don’t know what does. I thought I had taken myself to some pretty dark places before, but today…”Stokes also praised the returning Jofra Archer, who took 3 for 55 in his first Test in over four years.“It was one of those gut feelings. Jof was back and sometimes your gut just works. He cracked the game open with two wickets this morning. What an amazing job to get through that spell.”Stokes credited Bashir’s warrior spirit: “Broken finger, and he still stepped up. Took responsibility with the bat and then came back to take the final wicket — just amazing.”With eight days before the next Test in Manchester, England will rest and regroup, while India are left to rue missed chances.The stage is now set for an even more intense showdown at Old Trafford.
