England Triumphs Over India in Third Test, Inspired by Ganguly's Legacy

In a thrilling encounter, India lost to England by just 22 runs in the third Test at Lord's. Ben Stokes revealed that he inspired his team by recalling Sourav Ganguly's famous shirt-waving moment from 23 years ago. Jofra Archer, motivated by this story, delivered a stunning performance, taking crucial wickets and helping secure the win. Stokes himself played a vital role, contributing both with bat and ball. This match not only highlighted the competitive spirit of cricket but also the lasting impact of iconic moments in the sport.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 15, 2025, 11:44 IST

India's Narrow Defeat Against England

In a gripping third Test match against England, the Indian cricket team faced a narrow defeat by just 22 runs. Following the loss at Lord's, Ben Stokes made a remarkable revelation. He shared that the memory of Sourav Ganguly waving his shirt from the balcony 23 years ago played a pivotal role in motivating the England team to victory. Stokes recounted how he told Jofra Archer about Ganguly's iconic moment before the fifth day's play, which inspired Archer to deliver a game-changing performance against India.

Stokes Shares Ganguly's Inspiring Story

Stokes mentioned, 'I told Archer this morning, do you know what today is? It marks the day India chased down over 300 runs, and Ganguly waved his shirt.' Archer initially thought this referred to the World Cup final that took place six years ago. However, he recalled the 2019 World Cup final, where England triumphed over New Zealand on July 14. Following this motivation, Archer unleashed a devastating bowling spell, taking crucial wickets including those of Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar.

Archer's Impressive Comeback

After a four-year hiatus from Test cricket, Jofra Archer made a remarkable return, claiming five wickets in the Lord's Test. Notably, all his victims were left-handed batsmen. In the first innings, he dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sundar, and in the second innings, he repeated this feat, also taking Pant's wicket, which solidified England's victory. Ben Stokes emerged as the hero of the match, contributing significantly with both bat and ball, taking five wickets and scoring 77 runs. His run-out of Pant in the first innings was a turning point in the match, showcasing his exceptional leadership.