India’s Agony at Lord’s: How Small Mistakes and Brave Jadeja Defined a Gut-Wrenching 3rd Test vs England

IND vs ENG 3rd Test 2025 at Lord’s will be remembered as a classic where India came heartbreakingly close yet fell short by 22 runs against England. Over five tense days, small mistakes, a few missed chances, and brave heroics by Ravindra Jadeja defined a Test match that Sunil Gavaskar says India should never have lost. This is how it unfolded.

IND vs ENG 3rd Test 2025 at Lord’s was a nail-biter that reminded fans why Test cricket remains the purest format. The IND vs ENG 3rd Test 2025 result left Indian fans heartbroken but hopeful for the next match.

The fifth day of a thrilling test match, small differences, tremendous efforts. Small mistakes and yet, India will remember this match for a long time which will be enough to break the hearts of their fans.

England won this thrilling match by 22 runs and took a 2-1 lead in the series which shattered India’s dream of becoming a giant in this test match. India had runs, tremendous bowling. They even had a warrior in the form of Jadeja. But Gavaskar rightly said that they did not have that partnership which could have given a great death to this test match.

👉 IND vs ENG 3rd Test 2025: Final Day Drama at Lord’s

How the Final Day Slipped Away

At the start of the fifth day, the score was definitely in India’s favour but it was not easy. India needed 135 more runs to win on the slow Lord’s pitch, with 6 wickets in hand. Shubhman Gill, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant were all capable of achieving this target single-handedly.

But India’s dream was shattered in the first session itself. Archer and Stocks became a scary dream for India. Archer dismissed Pant on a very beautiful ball while Pant threatened to attack him. After that Stokes threw a magic ball and dismissed Rahul lbw – a dismissal that needed the captain’s intelligent eyes. Nitish Kumar Reddy, who looked brave, kept walking after hunting for the wokes during lunch and India’s hopes were completely shattered.

From needing 135 with six wickets, they were left clinging on at 82/7.

Jadeja vs. The Inevitable

There was one man standing in front of the entire army – Ravindra Jadeja. Calm, precise, fearless when needed. He batted with confidence. Batted with an unknown tailender, got a single where there was no single.

This was Jadeja’s fourth consecutive half century in this series, yet the end of his fighting spirit was heart-breaking once again. Sunil Gavaskar praised his patience, but also said that if only Jadeja had taken risks along with the fighting spirit. Gavaskar said that a partnership of 60-70 runs would have made a lot of difference, but that partnership could not be formed.

Jadeja’s efforts were so brilliant that when the end of the battle came, Siraj became bold on Bashir’s ball and India was only 22 runs behind. Jadeja and Stokes’s embrace said a lot. The two warriors were applying ointment on each other’s wounds.

The IND vs ENG 3rd Test 2025 saw India enter Day 5 needing 135 runs to win.
Ben Stokes’ heroics turned the IND vs ENG 3rd Test 2025 into a classic.

England’s Ruthless Execution

He must get the credit he deserves. Battling with fatigue, Ben Stokes bowled a Marathon spell at a time when everyone thought he wouldn’t be able to do it. Jofra Archer, who made a comeback after four years, reminded the world of his ability to turn the match around. Fast pace, powerful jump and the art of bowling a back through ball.

The wokes did the same thing that they have been doing in Lords. Quietly but decisively. The hero of the match was Bashir who took the wicket of Siraj and won the match.

Although England may have lagged behind India in runs and bowling, they batted when it was needed the most. This is called test cricket. You do not need to win every session, you just need to find the right opportunity.

👉 Where Did India Lose the IND vs ENG 3rd Test 2025?

It might be tempting to blame the morning conditions, but the seeds for the damage were sown days earlier.

Will the third day be remembered? Pant and Rahul were playing with the blinders of England’s short balls and were moving ahead with a partnership of 141 runs. Then, in the last over before lunch, Pant tried to take an unnecessary single and was run out by Stokes. A decision full of negligence. A decision which turned the match around. Instead of a lead of 80-100 runs during lunch, India remained at draw in the first innings.

The catch was also missed – In Bumrah’s dynamic style, Rahul dropped the catch of Brydon. This opportunity gave Cars and Smith a chance to share the morale-shattering 84 runs. After that, a mistake was made in changing the ball where the ball swung much less than the first ball, this gave a lot of relief to the England tailender.

All small moments. But they add up.

False Shots, Missed Edges, and the Luck Factor

Statistically, India outclassed England. More runs. Better average. More centuries. More five-wicket hauls. And yet the scoreboard shows England leading 2-1.

England’s top order had a narrow escape several times—Crawley and Duckett played and missed the edge but still made crucial runs. Bumrah and Siraj touched the ball but the edge did not go to the fielders.

In the end, fortune and finesse found a way to bend towards England.

Sunil Gavaskar: Brutally Honest, Painfully Correct

Gavaskar’s assessment was absolutely correct. India needed commitments. Pant’s dismissal, Rahul’s hesitation, Gill’s wrong decision – India had to pay a heavy price for all this.

Gavaskar said that a partnership of 60-70 runs made a difference. India’s players could not do that. He also pointed out the habit of the players that they could not take risks after thinking carefully when needed.

In other words, India batted like millionaires when they should have batted like monks.

If you missed it, here’s how India dominated in the 2nd Test at Edgbaston before the Lord’s heartbreak.

What Now?

The series is not over yet. India is trailing 2-1, but they maintained dominance till the end of the match, they have the ability to make a comeback. Even if the scoreboard is not in their favor, the fight is still on. They need to correct their small mistakes, like run outs, catches and wrong decisions, then they can turn the tables.

Jadeja’s form is a big plus point. Bumra is world class as always. Gill and Pant, despite all their mistakes, are enough to turn the match around on their own. Luck must also be on their side.

The Embrace at Lord’s: A Symbol of Test Cricket

After all, this match did not have real face swing, upheaval or weather. Stokes and Jadeja had to embrace each other, got tired, got injured but still kept fighting. It reminded me that real cricket is only test cricket. No shortest format of cricket can be so heartbreaking. There is no 20:20 that will stay in the memory for a lifetime.

This shame will always haunt India. But they should also know that it was not just England that defeated them. It was their own mistakes that defeated them. Small mistakes that turned a draw series into a comeback campaign.

Lord’s 2025: So Close, Yet So Far

Years from now, when fans will look back on the 2025 India-England series, they will remember Lord’s not for the defeat, but for India’s overall effort.

And maybe, just maybe, the lessons learned here will fuel India’s fire for the next battle.

Until then, Ravindra Jadeja’s name will continue to echo in the stands at Lord’s – a reminder that the heart was broken but so was the bravery.

What did you think of India’s performance at Lord’s? Should they make bold changes for the 4th Test? Drop your thoughts below!

To follow the entire India vs England Test series 2025, visit the official BCCI Tour Schedule or ECB’s Fixtures.

Read our full coverage of the India vs England 2025 Test Series.

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