Cricholic
Nitish Kumar Reddy delivered a fantastic opening spell that helped India take early control in the third Test at Lord’s. Thanks to his twin breakthroughs, England were pushed on the back foot early. However, a steady partnership between Joe Root and Ollie Pope helped the hosts recover to 83/2 at Lunch.
🔥 Nitish Kumar Reddy’s double strike jolts England
Right from the first few overs, Nitish Kumar Reddy made an impact. He bowled with purpose and accuracy, exploiting early movement. As a result, Ben Duckett edged behind while Zak Crawley fell to a mistimed drive.
- Reddy’s figures: 5-0-15-2
- Both openers gone with the score at 44
Furthermore, his ability to maintain a consistent length made it difficult for England’s top order to settle.
🧱 Root and Pope rebuild after Nitish Kumar Reddy’s blow
Despite the early damage, England showed resilience. Joe Root and Ollie Pope put together a composed and much-needed stand. Their partnership not only steadied the innings but also denied India further breakthroughs.
- Root: 24 off 34 balls*
- Pope: 12 off 34 balls*
- Partnership: 39 runs in 66 balls*
In fact, this stand is England’s best phase of the morning. Though cautious, the pair mixed defence with occasional attacking strokes.
🎯 Bumrah builds pressure from the other end
While Nitish Kumar Reddy was the headline performer, Jasprit Bumrah quietly controlled proceedings from the opposite end. His sharp lines and tight economy rate frustrated the batters and kept run scoring in check.
- Bumrah: 8-1-13-0, economy 1.62
- England’s run rate: 3.32
Consequently, England were unable to build momentum, even during the Root-Pope stand.
🧮 Lunch – Day 1 Snapshot
- England: 83/2 in 25 overs
- Fall of wickets: Duckett (14), Crawley (18)
- Root & Pope: Unbeaten on 24* and 12*
- Nitish Kumar Reddy: 2/15
- Overs remaining today: 65
- Reviews left: India – 3 | England – 3
Although England recovered slightly, India will feel they edged the first session thanks to Reddy’s breakthroughs and Bumrah’s control.
🔍 Can Nitish Kumar Reddy break the stand post-lunch?
As the second session begins, the focus will again be on Nitish Kumar Reddy. If he can remove one of the set batters early, India will be in a commanding position. On the other hand, England will hope this partnership blossoms.
Nevertheless, with overhead conditions staying cloudy, India will back their pacers to strike again. In particular, Reddy’s confidence and rhythm could make him the key player in the next hour.
