India's thumping 336-run victory over England at Edgbaston has breathed fresh life into the five-Test series, now locked at 1-1. As the caravan moves to the hallowed turf of Lord’s for the third Test starting July 10, talk has already begun around team combinations and the challenge of facing what Stuart Broad ominously called a “dangerous” Indian bowling unit.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“This Indian bowling attack would worry me if I was in that England batting lineup,” Broad said during a Sky Sports panel discussion following India’s historic win. “The ball just nips down that slope at Lord’s. Akash Deep brings the stumps into play, and if it swings, Bumrah will be lethal with the late movement.”
Shubman Gill’s youthful Indian team, still riding the high of their first-ever Test win at Edgbaston, appear settled and confident. Gill led from the front with a match tally of 430 runs (269 and 161), while Akash Deep stepped up in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, claiming a stunning 10-wicket haul.
With Bumrah set to return, former England captain Mark Butcher speculated that India are unlikely to make many changes. “Bumrah will come back, and the rest will stay the same,” Butcher said.
Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara agreed, noting, “[Mohammed] Siraj and Akash Deep will play. Prasidh Krishna might make way for Bumrah. And they’ll probably retain Washington Sundar at No. 8 for the balance he offers.”
On England’s side, the focus is on refreshing their misfiring pace attack. “[Chris] Woakes hasn’t had great success and was unlucky, but his Lord’s record is outstanding,” Broad noted. He also voiced caution about rushing in Jofra Archer or Gus Atkinson without recent match fitness.
“England play well at Lord’s,” Broad added, “but this Indian attack — especially with Bumrah back — could pose a serious threat.”
As the third Test looms, it’s India’s revitalised pace battery, not just their record-breaking captain, that now has England on high alert.
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