What was the turning point in the India vs England Lord's Test? Check details

Former Indian cricketer and legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar believes that Rishabh Pant’s untimely run-out just before the Lunch break on Day 2 of the third Test significantly shifted the momentum of the match in England’s favour. Pant, who had looked in sublime touch, was dismissed for 74 off 112 balls after an ill-timed attempt to steal a quick single ended with him being caught inches short of the crease. His dismissal came on the third ball of the 66th over, and with it, India’s promising fourth-wicket stand came to an end.

Gavaskar praised the partnership between KL Rahul and Pant, calling it the backbone of India’s innings up to that point. The duo had stitched together a vital 141-run stand, stabilizing the innings after a shaky start. Pant was playing with flair and control, mixing caution with aggression, while Rahul held the other end with composure. Gavaskar emphasized that the timing of Pant’s dismissal, coming right before a session break, was a major psychological blow to the Indian dressing room. Had Pant managed to bat through the session, India could have pushed for a much stronger total. Instead, his departure opened the door for England to claw back into the match.

"That was the biggest turning point of the match. Both batters were going so well, splendid batting from them. It was like a fire-and-ice combination. Rahul was all calm precision, playing calculated strokes, while Rishabh Pant brought power and punch, really putting pressure on the England bowling attack. It was a rollicking partnership, and then, just in that last hour before Lunch, the run-out changed everything," stated former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar. 

"Yes, we did manage to get to the 100-run mark after Lunch, but a run-out like that can linger in the mind. Maybe that's why, after the hundred, there was just a slight lapse - a shot that got Rahul out. So, in a short span, India lost two well-set batters. Suddenly, two new batters had to come in and build a partnership from scratch and that’s never easy," he added.

India matched England’s first-innings total of 387, showing remarkable resilience with the bat. However, despite their spirited fightback, they fell agonizingly short by just 22 runs in what could have been a memorable victory at Lord’s in the third Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. The narrow loss was a bitter pill to swallow for the Indian side, especially after being reduced to 112 for 8 on the final day, only for Ravindra Jadeja and the tailenders to drag the contest deep into the third session.

Captain Shubman Gill and his team now trail the five-match series 2-1 and will be desperate to bounce back in the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester. With the series still alive, India will be aiming to level things up and carry the contest into a decider at The Oval. The Lord’s Test saw moments of brilliance from both sides, but India’s inability to capitalize on key opportunities and some contentious umpiring decisions hurt their chances. As the focus shifts to Old Trafford, the Indian camp will look to regroup, iron out their flaws, and channel the positives from Lord’s into a more clinical and winning performance in the penultimate clash of the series.