London: Emotions ran high on Day 4 of the thrilling Lord’s Test between India and England as India head coach Gautam Gambhir let loose from the balcony, unable to contain his excitement after a game-changing moment.
The former India opener was caught on camera shouting an expletive as Washington Sundar bowled Joe Root around his legs, a breakthrough that swung momentum India’s way in the fiercely-contested third Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
Root, who had survived a close lbw call earlier in the session, was batting on 40 when Sundar delivered a turning ball that snuck past his bat and crashed into the leg stump. The England batter, who had notched a century in the first innings and looked to anchor the hosts again, was left stunned. Gambhir, watching from the Lord’s balcony, couldn’t hold back and was seen punching the air and hurling a mouthful in celebration, a reaction that quickly went viral on social media.
A match hanging by a thread
The Lord’s Test has proven to be a see-saw battle, with both teams posting identical first-innings totals of 387. As the match entered its final phase, tension was palpable across the iconic ground. England had started Day 4 under pressure, losing four wickets in the morning session, but Joe Root and Ben Stokes steadied the innings with a gritty 67-run partnership.
Just when England seemed to be clawing back, Sundar disrupted the script. First, he dismissed Root with a classic off-spinner’s delivery, then removed Jamie Smith minutes later, bowling the wicketkeeper-batter for just 8. His double strike tilted the game in India’s favour and triggered a visible wave of elation within the Indian camp, and especially from Gambhir, who had backed Sundar’s selection for the match.
Washington Sundar turns the game
Sundar’s inspired spell rattled the England middle order. By the end of Day 4, he had claimed four key wickets, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Ben Stokes, and Shoaib Bashir, underlining his match-turning role. England’s second innings folded for 192, leaving India chasing their highest-ever fourth-innings Test target in England.
The 24-year-old all-rounder, considered a surprise inclusion for the match, came “out of syllabus” for the hosts, especially with England expecting a Bumrah-led onslaught in the final innings. But it was Sundar who broke partnerships and turned the tide.
Tempers flare on day 3
Tensions were already high heading into Day 4. The closing moments of Day 3 had seen a fiery exchange between Indian fielders and England’s Zak Crawley. Jasprit Bumrah’s opening over in England’s second innings was heated, with Crawley repeatedly halting play due to sight screen issues.
Shubman Gill, usually calm on the field, lost his temper and was heard screaming, “Grow some f** ba**s”, a comment picked up by the stump mic and widely shared online. Bumrah then delivered a stinging bouncer that struck Crawley’s glove, prompting the batter to call for medical attention. Indian players responded with sarcastic claps and pointed gestures, and the atmosphere at Lord’s became charged.
As Crawley delayed the over, it appeared to be a tactical move to deny India an extra over before stumps. Both sides exchanged words, with Duckett stepping in to cool things down, preventing the situation from escalating further.
With scores level after the first innings and both teams showing equal resolve, the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy – currently tied at 1-1 – is headed for a thrilling conclusion. India were 53/2 at stumps, needing their highest-ever Test chase in England to seal the match and the series lead.