England vs India: Forecast of light rain on day 4 of the Lord's Test

Team India led by Virat Kohli was frustrated after the first day of the second Test at Lord’s was completely washed out. A delayed start meant their chances of making a comeback in the series turned that much fade. But now, the visitors will be looking up to the rain gods to intervene and save the match for them so that they can start afresh in the next game and the forecasts are not entirely against them.

They were faced with a deficit of 250 runs at stumps on Day 3 of the game, thanks to a late-order flourish from the English team. The hosts were five down for 131 at one point but a 189-run partnership between Chris Woakes (120 not out) and Jonny Bairstow (93) took them to 357 for 6 when play ended.

Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh and former batsman VVS Laxman are of the opinion that a draw was the best possible result for India in this game as they can certainly not win it from here. But given the batting form they are in, it will be a herculean task for Kohli’s men to survive more than a day to even produce a draw. And hence, the weather conditions come into India’s calculations.

Batted 35 overs in the 1st innings

India, who lost the first Test in Birmingham by 31 runs, were shot out for just 107 in the 35 overs they faced on a run-curtailed Day 2. When they came out to bowl, the move of picking two spinners instead of three seamers also backfired for the visitors. Of the six wickets that have fallen so far, none has been picked by either Ravichandran Ashwin or Kuldeep Yadav after bowling 26 overs.

Weather forecast in London on Sunday, August 12, could bring some cheer for the Indian fans as light rain is expected throughout the day. It is unlikely though that the entire day’s play will be disrupted and that will see the hosts having another go at the visitors in conditions that they have looked vulnerable repeatedly.

The chances of India surviving this Test match are dim but for a resolute resistance in the second innings. All-rounder Hardik Pandya, who picked debutant Ollie Pope in the Test, however, defended India’s precarious position in the Lord’s Test. He said losing the toss was the reason why they are in the position they are in.

“Any team would have got the same score we got, you know. Playing in that condition, there was a little drizzle, the wicket also got a little wet. Conditions were completely different,” Pandya said after the end of the day’s play.

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