Ravindra Jadeja was instrumental with the bat in the Lord’s Test, remaining unbeaten on 61 in the second innings and sustaining India’s hopes of victory.
Tense and Dramatic Third Test Overshadowed by Over-Rate Issues and Umpire Authority Debate

The third Test between India and England delivered high tension, aggression, and drama on and off the field. After five days of fiercely competitive cricket, the hosts secured a dramatic 22-run victory at Lord’s. However, a major subplot throughout the match—and the series as a whole—was the ongoing problem of slow over rates. The third Test experienced multiple delays caused by concerns over the condition of the ball and individual player breaks.
Former England batter Michael Atherton raised alarms about the diminishing “authority” of umpires, citing an off-camera incident involving India’s Ravindra Jadeja as a worrying example. Atherton questioned whether on-field officials are losing control during critical moments, suggesting that the introduction of the DRS system may have weakened umpire power. “Pre-DRS, the umpires were almost omnipotent. Since DRS, maybe that authority has just withered away,” he told Sky Sports Cricket.
Atherton recalled a moment when Ravindra Jadeja, while having a drink, completely ignored an umpire signaling him to hurry up. He emphasized the need to speed up the game without sacrificing quality.
While it’s unclear whether Atherton referred to the first or second innings, Ravindra Jadeja role with the bat was crucial for India in the Lord’s Test. Coming in at a precarious 71/5, Jadeja showed grit and resilience, forging vital partnerships with Nitish Kumar Reddy and Jasprit Bumrah to keep India’s chase alive. He also took charge of scoring runs with tailender Mohammed Siraj, but Siraj’s unfortunate dismissal eventually led to India’s narrow defeat.
Fourth Test begins July 23

With England leading the five-Test series 2-1, Shubman Gill’s team faces a must-win situation to keep their series hopes alive. Team India began their first training session in Manchester on Thursday.