England Nears Victory Over India With Stokes' Key Performance at Lord's

England captain Ben Stokes has been pivotal in the ongoing third Test against India at Lord's, leading with both bat and ball despite personal struggles with batting form. His aggressive leadership on Day 5 was partly fueled by India's targeting of Zak Crawley, according to former teammate Stuart Broad, and his intense spell of 9.2 overs showcased his grit and determination, earning praise from ex-India all-rounder Irfan Pathan as the 'heart of the England team.' Stokes contributed crucial wickets, including those of Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Akash Deep, and KL Rahul, helping leave India reeling as they chased a challenging target of 193. Despite recent batting woes—averaging just 27.16 in the series—Stokes remains a game-changer with his all-round abilities. England now stand two wickets away from victory and a potential 2-1 lead in the series, while India are left hoping for a late-order miracle. Stokes' leadership and resilience continue to draw attention, even amid criticism and immense expectations.