[By Devansh Desai]
Six years to the day after Ben Stokes’ iconic World Cup triumph, the England captain once again proved his mettle, leading his side to a heart-stopping Test match victory at Lord’s on July 14. In a match that echoed the intensity of that 2019 final, Stokes’ relentless performance with the ball and unyielding leadership clinched England’s narrowest Test win at the historic venue.
Also read: A Blockbuster Finale at Lord’s today: Washington Sundar remains optimistic
On Saturday, Stokes bowled a grueling seven overs with the second new ball, prompting coach Brendon McCullum to send a staff member to remind him of his mortal limits. By Monday, no one dared interrupt. Stokes delivered a marathon 9.2-over spell, followed by a 10-over stint, commanding the field with such authority that India’s Ravindra Jadeja had to seek his permission for a quick bathroom break. Jadeja, India’s own all-round hero, matched Stokes’ fire with a defiant fourth consecutive half-century, steering his side’s tail with grit. But even his heroics couldn’t deny England.
The decisive moment came in the fifth over after tea, when Shoaib Bashir, nursing a broken finger, coaxed a ball to spin off Mohammed Siraj’s bat and onto the stumps. Lord’s erupted as Siraj, overcome with despair, fell, while Bashir’s jubilant leap signaled England’s victory in a Test that will be etched in history as the closest ever at the ground.
India began the day needing 135 runs, but England unleashed 21.5 overs of unrelenting pressure in the morning session. The tension had been building over three days, fueled by Shubman Gill’s frustration at England’s time-wasting tactics and peaking with Siraj’s fiery send-off to Ben Duckett. Even the usually composed Jofra Archer joined the fray, getting in Rishabh Pant’s face after dismissing him in the third over of the day. Pant’s off stump cartwheeled after Archer, provoked by a one-handed shot down the ground, found extra bite in the pitch to outfox the Indian batsman.
Archer’s celebration was electric, veering toward Pant before Bashir reined him in. Stokes, however, set the tone, demanding noise, belief, and energy from his team to trap India in hostile territory. His prophecy of “bang, bang” dismissals came true when he removed KL Rahul 18 balls after Pant’s exit. Sprawled on the ground appealing for lbw, Stokes’ conviction led to a review that confirmed his instincts three reds on HawkEye, and Lord’s roared with the 24,281 fans in attendance. England’s captain was the fulcrum, surrounded by teammates inspired by his belief in the impossible.
India’s collapse was swift: three wickets for 11 runs in four overs. Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy briefly steadied the ship, stitching a 30-run stand over 89 balls as “India! India!” chants echoed from the stands. Harry Brook’s cheeky sledge “Not in the IPL, Jaddu’s got to score them all” and Stokes’ extended follow-throughs couldn’t break Jadeja’s resolve. He calmly shook his head, refusing to engage, as lunch loomed.
Enter Chris Woakes. With England’s early momentum fading, the veteran seamer struck, inducing an edge from Reddy to the keeper. The crowd’s cheers ushered England off the field, sensing a turning point. Jadeja, now with only tailenders for support, nearly fell to Woakes’ lbw appeal in the 48th over, but DRS overturned the call. Galvanized, Jadeja smashed the next ball into the midwicket stands, a rare release of emotion. He and Jasprit Bumrah then frustrated England with a 131-ball ninth-wicket stand, grinding out singles with disciplined resolve.
Stokes, however, refused to relent. In his sixth over of another Herculean spell, he went short, defying a lifeless pitch. Bumrah, tempted into hooking, top-edged to England’s relief, leaving India one wicket from defeat. Stokes, visibly drained, forgot his cap with the umpire but kept charging in, urging Archer to chase a ball at long-on, cheering Jamie Smith’s sharp keeping, and diving to short leg for a near-match-winning catch.
When Bashir finally sealed the win, Stokes stood still, exhausted, as his teammates swarmed him in celebration. India’s valiant fight fell short, but Stokes’ iron will had prevailed, cementing his legacy as England’s clutch performer on cricket’s grandest stage.