After a dominant 336-run victory over England at Edgbaston, which leveled the series at 1-1, India heads into the Lord's Test with a lot of confidence. However, to optimize their XI for the unique conditions at Lord's, the team might consider a few changes. The third Test of the five-match series will commence on July 10, 2025.

Jasprit Bumrah's Return

Captain Shubman Gill has confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah will be back in the playing XI for the Lord's Test. Bumrah was rested for the Edgbaston Test to manage his workload, ensuring his fitness for Lord's, where the pitch is expected to favor seamers. His ability to extract bounce and movement, coupled with his express pace and accuracy, makes him a crucial weapon at Lord's. To accommodate Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna is likely to make way.

Shardul Thakur for Nitish Kumar Reddy?

Another potential change could involve Shardul Thakur replacing Nitish Kumar Reddy. Thakur has a proven track record in England, especially at Lord's. He brings invaluable experience in these conditions, often picking up crucial wickets at key moments and contributing with the bat down the order. His ability to move the ball both ways and score handy runs makes him an attractive option, particularly at a ground like Lord's, which traditionally offers some swing.

While Nitish Kumar Reddy is a promising young all-rounder, his debut at Edgbaston saw him get out cheaply in both innings and not bowl. Shardul provides a more established two-way threat in Test cricket, especially overseas. The team might look for more solidity and experience in a crucial Test.

Other Considerations

• Batting Order: The batting order is unlikely to change. Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant have scored heavily in the first two matches. Even Karun Nair, despite not scoring big, has looked decent at the crease.
• Washington Sundar: Washington Sundar is likely to retain his place in the team. While he picked up only one wicket and scored a handful of runs in the previous match, he provides cushion to the team. His drift with the ball can be effective, and along with Ravindra Jadeja, he can score crucial runs, especially if batting is difficult early on.
• Pace Attack: With Bumrah's return, the focus is on which other pacers will feature. Akash Deep, who had a phenomenal outing with a 10-wicket haul at Edgbaston, is likely to retain his place. Mohammed Siraj, who has bowled over 70 overs in two matches and picked up 9 wickets, might be rested to manage his workload. In that case, Arshdeep Singh could be given a chance.

Predicted XI

Based on the above analysis, India's predicted XI for the Lord's Test could be: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, and Arshdeep Singh.

Ultimately, the final decision will depend on the pitch conditions and the team management's assessment of the players' form and fitness.