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KL Rahul plays a shot during the fourth day of the third cricket test match between England and India at Lord's cricket ground in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025.(AP Photo)
The Lord’s Test is on a knife’s edge coming heading into the final day on Monday with India’s scoreboard reading 58/4 in the final innings with 135 runs needed for the visitors to claim a 2-1 lead. India have lost three set batters in the form of Yashasvi Jaiswal, captain Shubman Gill and Karun Nair in their chase of 193 runs on a tricky pitch.
Former India coach and cricketer Anil Kumble has handpicked KL Rahul as the man who needs to guide India home.
“KL Rahul is going to be the main man (for India). If India are to go past this total tomorrow, he needs to be there till the end — not just give India a good start,” Kumble said in his analysis on JioHotstar. “This is going to be a very important knock. If India have to cross the line, KL Rahul will have to play a major role.”
IND vs ENG 3rd Test Day 4 Live Updates: Joe Root in action. (AP photos)
Kumble also pointed out how Rahul had salvaged his innings by making a batting tweak after almost being caught in the second innings. Rahul is currently in the middle with 33 runs off 47 balls after a century in the first innings.
“Early on, I thought he looked a bit like Joe Root, reaching out to the ball, and that’s when there was a chance offered to Chris Woakes. He was lucky to be dropped. But from that moment on, he started waiting for the ball to come onto him, and once he did that, he looked the part — just like he did in the first innings,” said Kumble.
Talking about the fate of the third Test, Kumble said: “(There will be) No draw, that’s for sure. That was a possibility, I guess, after Day 3 — but certainly not anymore. There’s been a lot of drama, and what this Test match has shown is that both teams have, at different points, let go and then pulled it back. It’s been a proper seesaw. India had a great chance — they did really well to restrict England to 192 and then got to 41 for 1. I thought Yashasvi Jaiswal played a very poor shot early in his innings, but Karun Nair and KL Rahul batted well to get to that 41. Then once Karun got out and Shubman Gill followed, it’s now slightly tilted back in England’s favour. India will need a massive partnership from KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant tomorrow.”
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