Stokes, 34, underwent a successful operation on as torn hamstring in December followed by a rigorous physical fitness programme during which he lost 10 kilograms in weight.
India may have made tactical errors, but former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes the bigger culprit was the weather.
As fans celebrated his bold leadership, a black Nike vest he sported during the drinks break has triggered questions about a potential breach of BCCI's apparel deal with Adidas.
With the series nicely poised at 1-1 going into the third Test, the narrative built around both the teams has changed significantly following India's 336-run routing of England at Edgbaston.
Rishabh Pant, who hit two centuries in the Headingley Test, now trails top-ranked batter Joe Root by just 88 points.
India Head Coach Gautam Gambhir addressed the crow as Team India were hosted by the Indian High Commission in London on Monday
The marquee contest will witness an engrossing tussle for supremacy between two battle-hardened all-rounders: Jadeja, India's man for all seasons, and England's superstar Ben Stokes, who has been the face of a defining era for the Three Lions.
How the Indian players fared in the five-Test series in England.
Varun Aaron said that the England batting unit is not going to be "very comfortable" heading into the third Test against India at Lord's
IMAGES from Day 3 of the third Test match, played between England and India at Lord's, London, on Saturday.
India skipper Shubman Gill on Wednesday said that levelling the five-match Test series in England would be a "great achievement" and he would return from his first assignment as captain a lot wiser.
All-rounder Rachin Ravindra continued to bolster his reputation with three for 33 as New Zealand reduced a weakened but battling South Africa side to 220 for six on the first day of the second Test at Seddon Park on Tuesday.
Who do you think should be part of the Indian team for the first Test against England?
Washington Sundar's double strike pegged England back in the afternoon session, leaving them struggling 175/6 at tea on Day 4 of the third Test, at Lord's.
England lead 2-1 in the series and victory at Old Trafford would seal it.
With India conceding more than 600 runs for the first time since 2014, the case for including a wicket-taking spinner like Kuldeep Yadav is stronger than ever for the must-win fifth and final Test against England.
'Over the years, I have played under different captains. I know the mindset of every single captain whom I have played under and I also understand what players need and their mindset.'
Ravindra Jadeja is on the cusp of a significant batting milestone during the third Test against England, starting at Lords on Thursday.
The series, to commence on June 20, will be played at Headingley in Leeds, Edgbaston in Birmingham, Lord's and The Oval in London, and Old Trafford in Manchester.
Opener K L Rahul expressed disappointment as India failed to gain a lead against England on Day 3 of the third Test of the five-match series at 'Home of Cricket', Lord's, on Saturday.
Going into the penultimate game of the rubber, the pressing question is whether to tweak their conservative approach and bolster the spin department by playing left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav at the cost of a spin all-rounder.
'It felt like you had to force the ball through, which in England were are not used to -- you usually get rewards for your cuts and clips.'
The swashbuckling left-hander has a solid record in England, with 808 runs in 10 Tests and 19 innings at an average of 42.52, with four centuries and two fifties. His best score is 146.
IMAGES from Day 1 of the third Test match between England and India at Lord's, London, on Thursday.
Former captain Nasser Hussain criticised the slow over rate in the third Test between India and England at Lord's.
England's right-handed batter Harry Brook has replaced his teammate Joe Root to reclaim the No. 1 Test batter's position in the world
Dinesh Karthik and Nasser Hussain pointed to a string of missteps -- a dropped catch, a run out, a collapse -- that proved far more decisive than the final day's drama.
Spin great Anil Kumble praised Nitish Kumar Reddy's showing with the ball on Day 1 of the Lord's Test on Thursday.
In his bail plea filed recently before the Thane magistrate's court, Verma pleaded innocence, contending that the allegations, even though serious, "are subject to proof beyond reasonable doubt during trial".
India have never won a second Test after they lost the first Test in England.
Needing 7 to win, Siraj is given the ball and who better than Mr Lion Heart to script India's narrowest win in Test cricket. It takes Siraj a stinging yorker to send Atkinson's stumps flying -- the ball hitting low on the off stump.
Kuldeep for Shardul could be the only change at Edgbaston as India eye parity
After a poor show by the lower-order batters in the first Leeds Test, Team India scripted a memorable comeback at Birmingham - one for the history books
Star Sports, the official broadcasters in India, tweeted a clip of Brook playing mind games with Krishna.
With over 500 runs, six crucial catches, the most by an Indian on the tour, Rahul led by example and lived up to his wiseman tag.
Stokes, the leading wicket-taker of the series with 17 scalps, will be a mere spectator at The Oval, robbing the series finale of his charismatic on-field presence.
Shubman Gill walked out at Edgbaston with questions swirling around his captaincy - and answered them with his bat
Any defect identified by the expert would have to be rectified within one month, failing which compensation of 5,000 per day would be payable.
San Francisco's Allen hits record 19 sixes in MLC season opener
Shubman Gill was deemed Rohti's long-term successor and was crowned the new Test skipper.
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