Buoyant India unperturbed by prospect of spicy Lords pitch

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FILE PHOTO: Cricket - Second Test - England v India - Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham, Britain - July 6, 2025 Indias Akash Deep celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Englands Jamie Smith Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File Photo

REUTERS

LONDON - India expect England to roll out a challenging track for the third test at Lords but are confident their in-form batters can master it, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said on Tuesday.

India levelled the five-test series 1-1 with a thumping 336-run victory at Edgbaston where they racked up 587 in the first innings and declared their second on 427-6.

England are pondering overhauling their tired bowling attack and a fit-again Jofra Archer is in line to play his first test in more than four years at Lords.

It will be a challenge if Jofra comes in, Kotak told reporters ahead of the third test beginning on Thursday.

England might want to make a couple of bowling challenges. The wicket, it seems, will also be a bit more challenging.

After the last two games, if England decides to roll out a more challenging wicket, its fair enough.

The green tinge of the pitch tells Kotak that runs would not exactly flow at Lords.

This wicket looks greener than the last two matches. But one cannot be too sure before the final trimming tomorrow, he said.

Normally the first and second innings scores at Lords tend to be lower.