Day 4 of the third Test between England and India at Lord's saw a tense exchange between Ben Stokes and KL Rahul, marked by sarcastic applause and crowd boos. The incident occurred during the final minutes of play, with India chasing a target of 193 runs.

The drama unfolded after India's nightwatchman, Akash Deep, defended a delivery from Brydon Carse. Carse had words with Akash Deep, who responded by gesturing him over. KL Rahul intervened as things escalated, and Stokes walked towards Rahul, offering mock applause and pointed provocation.

The incident appeared to be a response to a similar situation on Day 3, when Shubman Gill approached Zak Crawley with a similar gesture. England's Zak Crawley had called for medical assistance after being struck on the finger by a Jasprit Bumrah delivery in the closing moments of Day 3.

Before Stokes's sarcastic applause, Akash Deep had called for the team physio to receive strapping on his right leg. The Lord's crowd expressed their displeasure with loud boos, recognizing the delay tactics. The delay mirrored England's use of a similar tactic the previous evening.

Stokes had the last laugh when he dismissed Akash Deep with the final ball of the day. Despite the wicket, Akash Deep managed to shield KL Rahul, preventing any further wickets from falling before the close of play. India ended the day at 58 for 4, needing another 135 runs to win.

The incident sparked reactions from players and fans, with Ben Duckett also seen clapping in jest at the Indian batters. Social media platforms buzzed with discussions about Stokes's actions, with some users finding the incident humorous. Others criticized the alleged time-wasting tactics employed by both teams.