India vs England: Will Jofra Archer trouble the visitors in the Lord's Test?

Former Indian pacer Varun Aaron has pinpointed the looming face-off between Jofra Archer and India’s top-order as one of the most thrilling match-ups to watch in the upcoming India vs England 3rd Test. Speaking ahead of the high-stakes encounter at Lord’s, Aaron emphasized the significant threat Archer poses to the Indian batting unit, particularly against the in-form trio of Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, and Shubman Gill. Aaron underlined that Archer’s raw pace and ability to generate awkward bounce make him a genuine match-winner in English conditions.

Jofra Archer to be the key for the hosts in the India vs England Lord's Test?

He mentioned that while Jaiswal and Rahul have been solid at the top of the order, facing Archer’s fiery spells could truly test their technique and temperament. He also highlighted that Shubman Gill, despite his current purple patch, has struggled against Archer in previous encounters, which adds another layer of intrigue to the upcoming duel. The India vs England third Test, with the series level at 1-1, is expected to be fiercely contested, and Aaron believes Archer could be England’s X-factor if he finds rhythm early. With both sides aiming to gain the upper hand, Archer’s battle with India’s top three could play a pivotal role in shaping the course of the match.

The third Test of the ongoing five-match series between India and England is set to begin on Thursday, July 10, at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. With the series currently tied at 1-1, both teams will be looking to gain the upper hand in this crucial encounter. England have made a notable change to their squad, bringing back pace spearhead Jofra Archer into the playing XI. Archer, who missed the first two Tests of the series, is expected to add firepower and balance to the English bowling attack.

His return at Lord’s, a venue where he has previously delivered impactful performances, could be a game-changer for the hosts. With conditions at Lord’s traditionally offering assistance to seam bowlers, Archer’s inclusion is being seen as a strategic move by England to challenge India’s in-form batting line-up and regain momentum in the series.

"The Archer vs India contest is what I will look at, because Archer has that ability to straighten the ball from off-stump to a left-hander. Jaiswal has been key for India, especially at the start," stated former Indian pacer Varun Aaron. 

"He can also expose if there are any problems with KL Rahul, with the ball coming back in, because we saw what Woakes did, attacking the stumps a lot. Then if we get Gill in early, again he has great numbers vs Gill," he added.

Former Indian pacer Varun Aaron believes that another thrilling battle to watch in the upcoming India vs England third Test live cricket score will be the face-off between India’s pace trio—Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep—and England’s top-order batters. With the Lord’s pitch traditionally aiding seam movement and bounce, the contest is expected to be a high-octane battle, especially considering the form and rhythm the Indian fast bowlers have displayed so far in the series. Aaron particularly praised Akash Deep for his impactful performance in the second Test at Edgbaston, where he claimed a 10-wicket haul.

Aaron also delved into the individual battle between Shubman Gill and Jofra Archer, calling it one of the key duels in the Lord’s Test. He pointed out that Gill has struggled against Archer in past encounters, managing just 18 runs off his bowling in Tests at an average of 9.00. The England speedster has dismissed Gill twice in three innings—once in the first Test at Chennai and again in the third Test at Ahmedabad during the 2021 series. With Archer making a return to the playing XI and Gill in superb form this time around, the matchup is expected to be a gripping subplot in the larger contest.

"Bumrah, Siraj and Akash Deep vs the top order of the England batting unit, because Siraj and Akash Deep have gotten 17 wickets between them in the second Test, a lot of wickets with the new ball, and, at the end of the day, if you get wickets with the new ball and get your team off to a good start at Lord's, you are mostly commanding the whole Test," Aaron concluded.