Jadeja, England pacer in spat; Stokes steps in to break tension

Tempers flared on Day 5 of the third India vs England Test at Lord’s as Ravindra Jadeja was involved in a heated altercation with England pacer Brydon Carse. The incident occurred during a tense chase when India were on the brink of collapse, chasing 193 runs with only a few wickets in hand.

The flashpoint came on the final ball of the 35th over. While taking a run, Jadeja collided with Carse, and it appeared that the English bowler held Jadeja by the neck. Jadeja, visibly furious after completing the run, exchanged sharp words with Carse. The situation escalated quickly, forcing England skipper Ben Stokes to step in and diffuse the tension between the two players.

Earlier in the session, England’s bowlers, led by Jofra Archer, turned up the heat on a crumbling Lord’s pitch. The Indian batting line-up faltered under pressure, with Rishabh Pant (9), KL Rahul (39), and Washington Sundar (0) falling in quick succession.

India, who resumed the day at 58/4 needing 135 more runs, pinned hopes on the experienced duo of Rahul and Pant. However, Archer, playing his first Test in over four years, delivered a blistering spell that blew the match wide open. Pant, visibly struggling with a painful finger injury, tried to counterattack but was undone by a searing delivery that nipped in and shattered his off-stump. Archer didn’t shy away from letting him know about it either, engaging in a brief exchange as Pant walked back through the iconic Long Room.

KL Rahul, too, couldn’t withstand the relentless pressure. Stokes, bowling a superb spell from the Nursery End, got the better of Rahul with a delivery that seamed in sharply to trap him leg-before. Though the on-field umpire ruled in Rahul’s favour, DRS overturned the decision, triggering loud cheers from the home crowd.

India were 112 for 8 at lunch, with England firmly in control. Chris Woakes added to the damage, removing Nitish Reddy just before the break. The Indian chase appeared all but over, and the collapse underscored the team’s struggles on seaming, fifth-day tracks.

While the match itself was gripping, the Jadeja-Carse confrontation added a dramatic subplot to an already fiery day. With tensions running high, the clash exemplified the intensity of the historic rivalry and the immense pressure both teams faced in a crucial Test showdown.

With just two wickets in hand and 81 runs still to get, India's hopes were hanging by a thread as the hosts closed in on a series-defining victory.