The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy has kicked off with intense competition as India and England are tied 1-1 in the ongoing five-match Test series. In the first Test, England took an early lead with a remarkable five-wicket chase on the final day.

However, India made a powerful comeback in the second Test, even without star pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Skipper Shubman Gill led from the front with outstanding batting, while Akash Deep delivered a career-best performance with the ball.

Bumrah’s Rest Sparks Debate, but India Prove Critics Wrong

Before the second Test, there was intense debate over resting Bumrah, especially as India were trailing in the series. Critics questioned the decision. But in Leeds, Bumrah’s absence didn’t hurt India. On a flat pitch favoring batters, India’s bowlers still shined.

Bumrah had impressed earlier with a five-wicket haul in the first innings. Yet, India stuck to their plan and responded with their biggest overseas Test win by run margin—a huge 336-run victory.

Gill and Akash Steal the Show in Second Test

Gill dominated the batting charts, scoring over 400 runs in the match. Meanwhile, Akash Deep picked up 10 wickets, helping India clinch a massive win. The team silenced critics, and discussions about team selection faded for the moment.

But ahead of the third Test, selection debates have resurfaced, especially with Bumrah set to return.

Lord’s Pitch and Bowling Dilemma

The upcoming match will be played at Lord’s, where early pitch visuals suggest conditions may favor fast bowlers. But experts warn that the pitch might change by Thursday’s toss.

England head coach Brendon McCullum has openly said he wants a pitch with “more pace, more bounce, little bit of sideways movement.”

India’s fast bowling unit has shown depth. Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep impressed at Edgbaston, while Prasidh Krishna made a stronger showing in the second innings of the second Test. However, he may make way for Bumrah’s return.

Kuldeep Yadav’s Position Remains Uncertain

Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav has not played a single game in this tour. Despite being a good wicket-taking option, he may again sit out if the pitch supports pace over spin.

Batting Line-up May Remain Unchanged

India dropped B Sai Sudharsan in the second Test and are expected to retain the current batting order. Karun Nair had starts in both innings but failed to convert them into big scores. Still, he may be given another opportunity.

Nitish Reddy, who replaced Shardul Thakur in Birmingham, failed to impress with either bat or ball. The team may consider bringing Thakur back into the lineup.

India’s Likely XI for the 3rd Test

Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur / Nitish Reddy / Arshdeep Singh, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah