Watch: 'Selfish' KL Rahul gets Rishabh Pant run out as Ben Stokes pulls off brilliant direct-hit at Lord’s

Rishabh Pant’s gritty knock came to a heartbreaking end just before lunch on Day 3 of the ongoing third Test against England, thanks to Ben Stokes’ brilliance at Lord’s. The England captain pulled off a sensational direct hit to send Rishabh Pant back to the pavilion on Day 3.

It all happened in the final over before the lunch break on Day 3 of the ongoing third Test between India and England. Shoaib Bashir delivered one outside off, and Pant gently tapped it to the off-side. KL Rahul was seemingly too desperate to rotate the strike and called for a quick single.

Watch: Ben Stokes stuns India with direct-hit to dismiss Rishabh Pant

But the Indian wicketkeeper-batter was late to respond. And then in a breathtaking scene, the England skipper jumped like a hawk, picked the ball in one swift motion, turned, and fired a bullet throw at the non-striker's end and shattered the stump.

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Pant was caught well short, and England had gotten their breakthrough at a crucial moment of the game at Lord’s. The timing of the call couldn’t have been worse, as he walked back to the pavilion after playing an explosive knock of 74 runs off 112 balls, with 8 fours and 2 sixes against England. There is no doubt it was KL Rahul's fault because he was desperate to get on the strike and complete his ton before lunch.

RUN OUT! 🙌

Ben Stokes aims and fires at the stumps and Rishabh Pant is out! ❌ pic.twitter.com/Z9JWwV9aS4

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 12, 2025

India in good position but England gets crucial breakthrough at Lord’s

Meanwhile, the Indian cricket team has found itself in a solid position, trailing by just 139 runs with six wickets still in hand, but it could’ve been even better against England. KL Rahul is close to his century, but just before lunch, they gifted England a crucial breakthrough at Lord’s.

A mix-up between Rahul and Pant ended a brilliant 141-run partnership. Until that moment, England tried everything, including tight lines, short balls, bouncers, and even spin, but they had no success before the lunch break at Lord's.

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Now, with Pant gone and India's lower order not showing much fight so far in the ongoing five-match Test series, England will return after lunch full of confidence, hoping to take quick wickets.

Rishabh Pant just two sixes away from breaking Virender Sehwag's historic milestone

Well, Rishabh Pant has now hit 88 sixes in Test cricket, equalling Rohit Sharma’s tally. He is just two sixes away from breaking Virender Sehwag’s record, who currently holds the record for most Test sixes by an Indian batter with 90. Pant is now on the cusp of becoming India's leading six-hitter in Test history.

Additionally, Pant has now created a special record in Test cricket. With his latest fifty in the ongoing third Test in England, the left-handed batter has equalled MS Dhoni’s record for the most 50-plus scores by a visiting wicketkeeper in England. Both Pant and Dhoni now have 8 fifty-plus scores in England.

The Indian wicketkeeper-batter also went past South Africa’s John Waite, who had 7 fifty-plus scores in England. If Pant hits one more in the ongoing third Test against England at Lord’s, he will become the wicketkeeper with the most 50+ scores in England in the traditional format of the game.