With the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy finely balanced at 1-1, the Indian team is leaving no stone unturned in their preparations for the crucial third Test against England at Lord's. Amidst the strategic planning and intense practice sessions, one notable event has captured attention: the recall of a discarded pacer to the nets, where he bowled a long spell to captain Shubman Gill.

The Indian team management's decision to include this pacer in the pre-Test training session indicates a keen focus on assessing all available options and ensuring the team is well-prepared for the challenges posed by the Lord's pitch. The pacer's presence provided valuable match practice for Shubman Gill, allowing him to hone his skills against a varied bowling attack.

Jasprit Bumrah, India's pace spearhead, is set to return to action after missing the second Test due to workload management. He had an extensive net session, bowling for approximately 45 minutes before practicing his batting against left-arm spin and throwdowns. Bumrah's return is expected to bolster the Indian bowling attack, adding control and bite.

The Lord's pitch is anticipated to be more challenging for batters compared to the batting-friendly surfaces in the first two Tests. India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak expects the pitch to offer more help for bowlers. Pictures of the Lord's pitch have circulated, revealing a greener surface than those seen in the previous matches. Gautam Gambhir, India's head coach, was seen in an intense discussion with his coaching staff, potentially strategizing how to exploit the conditions with their pace attack.

Several players, including Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj, and Washington Sundar, were absent from the optional training session at Lord's. The team had traveled from Birmingham, and most players opted to rest after the journey. Mohammed Siraj, who has bowled the most overs among the Indian pacers in the first two games, may have his workload managed.

Rishabh Pant, the Indian vice-captain, said that the team isn't particularly worried about the pitch at Lord's. He stated that the team generally plans to play according to the conditions. Pant also hinted at the possibility of India playing three pacers and one or two spinners in the third Test.

Deep Dasgupta believes that Team India must maintain consistency in both batting and bowling, mirroring their performance in the second Test, to take the lead in the series. He emphasized the importance of rest and recovery, especially for the pace bowlers and captain Shubman Gill, given the short turnaround between matches.

England has recalled Jofra Archer for the Lord's Test, marking his return to red-ball cricket after four and a half years. This sets the stage for a potentially exciting showdown between Archer and Bumrah, two premier fast bowlers. Chris Woakes, who has a good record at Lord's, is also a key player for England.

India needs to remind themselves that winning momentum is a myth. Despite their commanding win in the second Test, they need to be prepared for the swinging momentum at Lord's. England, playing at their "Home of Cricket," will aim to hit India hard.