Shubman Gill dropped a catch off Ollie Pope during the first session of the third Test between India and England at Lord’s on Thursday. It was a rare slip-up in what was otherwise smart and thoughtful captaincy from the 25-year-old.
Shubman Gill’s Mixed Start: A Dropped Catch and a Smart Call
Despite a long spell of hard work from Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep – where England’s batters had a few lucky escapes – Gill came up with a clever move. He brought on batting all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, and the decision paid off right away.
India all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy made an immediate impact on day one of the Lord’s Test, picking up two wickets in a single over to leave England at 83 for two by lunch on Thursday.
England’s Openers Survive Early Pressure
England openers Ben Duckett (23 off 40) and Zak Crawley (18 off 43) had done well to get through the first hour, taking the score to 39 without loss in 13 overs, despite some probing bowling from Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, and Mohammed Siraj.
Given Lord’s famous slope, it took the Indian bowlers a bit of time to adjust to the uneven angles while running in. Bumrah bowled from both the Pavilion End and the Nursery End, while Akash Deep, coming off a 10-wicket haul at Edgbaston, took the new ball from the Nursery End.
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After the first hour, many expected Akash Deep to return for another spell, but captain Shubman Gill made a bold call and handed the ball to Reddy instead. The move paid off.
Reddy struck with a slice of luck as Duckett gloved a short ball down the leg side to Rishabh Pant behind the stumps. The very next delivery almost brought another wicket, but Gill couldn’t hold on to a sharp chance at gully, giving Ollie Pope an early life.
The final ball of the over brought another big moment. It was a gem of a delivery – pitched on a good length and seaming away just enough to find Zak Crawley’s outside edge, safely collected by the keeper.
Indian Fans Show Up in Big Numbers
Even though Lord’s holds just over 30,000 people, it felt like the whole of London was making its way to the ground. Crowds poured in from the nearby St. John’s Wood tube station, creating a buzz around the historic venue.
While Test cricket struggles to draw large crowds in some countries, this series has been a reminder that the traditional format is very much alive and well in England. Every day so far has been a sell-out, showing just how much the locals still love red-ball cricket.
There’s also been strong support from Indian fans, with many flying in for the high-profile contest. One family from Bengaluru paid as much as £1,200 for three tickets bought from touts outside the ground – a clear sign of just how much this match means to them.
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