Pace war set to explode at Lord's

The contest will also serve as a showdown between two pace-bowling superstars, India's Jasprit Bumrah and England's Jofra Archer, with the latter making a return to Test cricket after four years. Team India's recent record at Lord's has been fine, having won two of their last three matches during the past three tours of 2014, 2018, and 2021.

Team India, which delivered a phenomenal batting and bowling performance without Bumrah with skipper Shubman Gill's masterclass knocks of 269 and 161, Mohammed Siraj walking away with a six-fer, and Akash Deep taking ten-wicket haul at Birmingham, will be energized by 'Jassi Bhai' coming back into the team after missing out on the second Test due to workload management. 

Speaking ahead of the match in the pre-match presser, vice-captain Rishabh Pant said: "I think everything (What makes Bumrah special). How accurate he is, the way his mind works, I think he is just an amazing man. I think it's more difficult for the wicket-keeper behind the wicket than for a batsman, I guess. Especially in England (the movement he gets)." 

England skipper Ben Stokes is excited about Archer's return to playing XI. "Really exciting. I think it is great for English fans, but also for Jof. It has been a long time coming for him. The way in which he has handled injury setbacks over that period has been very commendable, and the way in which he has got himself back onto the field and playing cricket over a long period of time now, it is exciting to have him back."

 "I think Jof is going to be pretty proud of himself that he has managed to get himself back here after two pretty big injury scares," he added. Stokes also said that there are no plans to limit Archer's workload during the match."

There is definitely going to be no preconceived ideas around he is only bowling spells of four or five, definitely not," he said. 

Despite the heavy defeat in Birmingham, Stokes was confident about England's response at Lord's, promising a spirited comeback.

"We'll be coming out this week trying to hit them hard and obviously trying to come away with a win," he added. 

Pant and Team India are just as excited to take on Archer, looking to add to his resume of 13 Tests and 42 wickets, but they are not overawed by the challenge.