India heads into the third Test against England at Lord's with high confidence, buoyed by their resounding 336-run victory in the second Test at Edgbaston. This win not only leveled the five-match series 1-1 but also marked India's first-ever Test win at Edgbaston. However, the conditions at Lord's are expected to present a different challenge, with a spicy, green-top pitch anticipated.

England's team management has reportedly requested a pitch with "plenty of life" to unleash their returning pacers, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson. This decision seemingly stems from their defeat at Edgbaston, where England captain Ben Stokes felt the pitch resembled a sub-continent surface. The Lord's pitch, in contrast, is expected to favor bowlers, particularly in the initial sessions.

India's batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, acknowledged the challenging conditions, noting the green tinge on the pitch. He anticipates that the bowlers will find more assistance at Lord's compared to the previous two matches. Kotak also highlighted that first and second innings scores at Lord's tend to be lower, reinforcing the expectation of a bowler-friendly environment. Despite these challenges, the Indian team remains unfazed. Kotak expressed confidence in his team's ability to adapt, emphasizing the importance of spending time on the wicket and avoiding "silly shots". He believes that Indian batters possess the skill to score runs even under difficult conditions.

The presence of the iconic Lord's slope adds another dimension to the challenge for the Indian batsmen. The slope can cause the ball to move in unpredictable ways, requiring batsmen to adjust their technique accordingly. Jasprit Bumrah, who is set to return to the Indian lineup for this Test, compared the Lord's surface to pitches in Nagpur and Kanpur after bowling in the nets.

Kotak lauded Shubman Gill's performance in the second Test, where he scored 269 and 161, attributing his success to a combination of mindset and technical adjustments. Gill's ability to lead from the front has instilled further confidence in the Indian camp.

While the conditions at Lord's are expected to be challenging, India's strong batting lineup, coupled with the return of Jasprit Bumrah, gives them a well-rounded attack. The team is focused on maintaining their momentum and adapting to the demands of the spicy Lord's pitch. The key to success, according to Kotak, lies in the batsmen's mindset and their ability to spend time at the crease, while bowlers need to exploit the helpful conditions.