The highly anticipated third Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy between England and India is underway at Lord's Cricket Ground. With the series evenly poised at 1-1, this match holds significant importance in determining the series winner.

England secured a 5-wicket victory in the first Test at Headingley. India responded strongly in the second Test at Edgbaston, achieving a dominant 336-run victory to level the series. This win marked India's first-ever Test victory at Edgbaston, boosting their confidence as they head to Lord's.

Historically, Lord's has been a challenging venue for India. Out of 19 Test matches played there, India has won only three, lost twelve, and drawn four. In contrast, England has a strong record against India at Lord's, with 12 wins. However, recent results indicate a shift, with India winning two of their last three matches at the ground, including a memorable 151-run victory in 2021 under Virat Kohli's captaincy.

Ahead of the Lord's Test, the Indian support staff observed a green-tinged pitch, leading to expectations of early assistance for fast bowlers. India's batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, emphasized the need for minor adjustments and a strong mindset to counter natural variations caused by the slope at Lord's. England's coach, Brendon McCullum, has reportedly requested a pitch with 'plenty of life in it,' indicating a focus on pace and bounce.

England has made one change to their playing XI, bringing in Jofra Archer, who is making his comeback to Test cricket after a four-year gap. Former captain Michael Vaughan has cautioned against expecting too much from Archer. India's predicted XI includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah. Shubman Gill will lead India in this crucial encounter.