England captain Ben Stokes delivered a heroic performance in the third Test against India at Lord's, guiding his team to a nail-biting 22-run victory. Stokes, who was named Player of the Match for his all-round contributions, revealed that his bowling effort on the final day was one of the most challenging moments of his career.
"I’ve been to some pretty dark places before, but bowling to win a Test for your country—if that doesn’t get you excited, I don’t know what does," Stokes said after the match. The 34-year-old bowled a relentless 9.2-over spell in the morning session, dismissing the in-form KL Rahul, and followed it up with another 10-over burst in the afternoon to claim the crucial wicket of Jasprit Bumrah.
Despite recently recovering from hamstring surgery and facing a groin scare during the match, Stokes emphasized the importance of pushing through physical limits. "The Test match is on the line, it’s different. There are moments where I wouldn’t even think about stopping," he added.
England’s victory at Lord’s came six years to the day since their historic World Cup win at the same venue. Stokes highlighted the return of Jofra Archer, who played his first Test since 2021, as a key factor in the win. "I just had this gut feeling something was going to happen with it being Jofra’s first time back," Stokes said. Archer made an immediate impact, taking two wickets in the morning session to shift momentum in England’s favor.
The match was not without its controversies, as tensions flared on the field. India’s Mohammed Siraj was fined 15% of his match fee for an excessive celebration, while a collision between Ravindra Jadeja and Brydon Carse added to the drama. Stokes, however, downplayed the incidents, stating, "It’s a massive series, emotions are going. All 22 players are playing for their country."
With this win, England took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Stokes confirmed he would be fit for the fourth Test at Old Trafford, which begins on July 23. As the rivalry intensifies, both teams will be eager to capitalize on the momentum in the remaining matches.
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