The third Test between England and India at Lord's in July 2025 was a gripping affair, filled with drama and tension, ultimately resulting in a 22-run victory for the home side. Amidst the thrilling contest, a particular moment stood out: Jofra Archer's dismissal of Rishabh Pant on the fifth morning and the fiery send-off that followed.
India began the final day needing 135 runs with six wickets in hand, but Archer, playing his first Test in four years, quickly turned the tide. Pant, who had been in good form throughout the series, signaled his aggressive intent by coming down the wicket to Archer and swatting him for a boundary. However, the England speedster had the last laugh. Just two balls later, Archer delivered a ripping delivery at 89.6 mph that moved away off the pitch and uprooted Pant's off-stump.
As Pant walked back to the pavilion, Archer gave him an aggressive send-off, exchanging words with the Indian wicketkeeper. In a post-match interview, Archer revealed what he said to Pant in that heated moment: "It wasn't a proud moment, but I just told him to 'charge that!'". He further explained that he was slightly annoyed by Pant charging him earlier in the over. Archer felt grateful when the ball nipped down the slope to dismiss Pant.
Archer also indicated that England's amped-up intensity was a deliberate ploy. The team collectively felt they had been "too nice" until that point. He suggested that some teams are not as nice to them when they tour their countries. Archer didn't know if this change in attitude provided them with an extra buzz in the field.
The tension between the two sides had been building throughout the Test match. Zak Crawley's perceived delaying tactics on the third evening led to a heated confrontation between him and India captain Shubman Gill. The following morning, Mohammed Siraj made contact with Ben Duckett after dismissing Crawley's partner, resulting in a demerit point and a fine.
Archer's return to Test cricket was remarkable. He consistently troubled the Indian batsmen with speeds reaching 90 mph (145 kph). England captain Ben Stokes carefully managed Archer's workload with five-over spells. Archer's match-winning performance, including the key wickets of Pant and Washington Sundar, earned him the Player of the Match award and helped England secure a 22-run victory. He also took a stunning one-handed catch off his own bowling to dismiss Washington Sundar.
Reflecting on his comeback, Archer expressed his happiness at proving some "keyboard warriors" wrong. He said that being part of a thrilling England win over India in his comeback game at Lord's made his long journey back to Test cricket "all worth it". He also acknowledged the emotional lift he received from the Lord's crowd.
