England may have taken a 2-1 lead in the five-match Test series against India, but their victory at Lord's came with a costly consequence.

In the thrilling third Test, Ben Stokes' team managed to edge past India by 22 runs. However, a key error during the match has led to disciplinary action from the International Cricket Council (ICC), and it could impact their World Test Championship (WTC) campaign.

ICC Penalizes England After Lord’s Test

The ICC has taken significant action against England following the third Test against India. The English team has been fined 10 percent of its match fee and docked two points in the WTC standings for maintaining a slow over rate during the match.

This deduction could prove to be crucial in England’s chances of qualifying for the WTC 2025-27 final.

The third Test at Lord’s was a closely fought battle. England batted first and scored 387 runs. India matched that total, putting up 387 in their first innings as well. In the second innings, England were bowled out for 192, setting India a target of 193 runs to win the match.

Despite the modest target, India faltered in their chase. The team was eventually bowled out for 170, losing the game by 22 runs. Ravindra Jadeja led the resistance with a fighting knock of 61 runs off 181 balls, but his effort wasn’t enough to secure victory.

The fourth Test of the series is set to begin on July 23 at Old Trafford in Manchester. With England leading 2-1, Team India will aim to bounce back and level the series. A high-stakes encounter is on the cards as both teams eye a strong finish in the series and valuable WTC points.