India vs. England 3rd Test: Batting Coach Predicts Green Lord's Pitch to Favor Bowlers

As India prepares for the third Test at Lord's, riding high on the momentum from their historic victory at Edgbaston, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has shared his insights on the expected conditions and the mindset required for success in London.

The Indian team at Lord's, ready for the challenge.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Kotak addressed the nature of the Lord's pitch. "The pitch is very green. We will get a clearer idea after they cut the grass tomorrow. We can expect help for bowlers. The mindset of the batters will be key," he stated.

This assessment comes after India's commanding 336-run victory over England in the second Test at Birmingham, a win that secured their first-ever Test victory at Edgbaston and leveled the five-match series 1-1.

Despite the anticipated green surface at Lord's, Kotak expressed confidence in his team's ability to adapt.

Watch: India coach Sitanshu Kotak press conference.

"Indian batters are very skilled, without doing anything extra, they are scoring close to four," he noted, highlighting the team's efficient run-scoring ability.

Kotak refrained from taking personal credit for the team's recent batting form, emphasizing the players' efforts. "I would not like to take credit for batters scoring runs; it is them. This wicket will be challenging, but not thinking too much about it."

Addressing the conditions encountered thus far in the series, he dismissed any parallels to subcontinent pitches. "Our bowlers used [the conditions] well. The ball moved when our bowlers bowled. I don’t think these were subcontinent-type pitches," he clarified.

Regarding Shubman Gill's impressive performance, including his scores of 269 and 161 in the previous Test, Kotak lauded his mental approach and technique. “Nothing has changed because of captaincy. Mindset has been good – [he] wants to spend time [at the crease]; he has the skill to put loose balls away. There have been technical changes which he has done.”

With momentum on their side, India aims to maintain their strong form at Lord's, where they anticipate both the pitch and the English team to provide a stern test.