Yuvraj Singh Rings Bell at Lord's. Image Credits: BCCI
Yuvraj Singh, former India cricketer, was given a huge honor ahead of the third ODI between India and England that is being played at the Lord’s on July 19, 2026. The series is level 1-1 as India won the first ODI in Birmingham by 6 wickets, chasing 259 runs successfully.
However, England came back strongly at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, defeating India by 4 wickets, thanks to amazing bowling by Gus Atkinson and Jofra Archer and then 99* by Joe Root. Notably, England had already won the five-T20i series 0-4 with the first match rained out.
Yuvraj Singh rings the famous bell at Lord’s before third ODI between India and England
Yuvraj Singh, a former all-rounder for India, rang the famous five-minute bell at the historic Lord's Cricket Ground on Sunday to announce the start of play for the pivotal third ODI between India and England, adding a touch of elegance and nostalgia.
To the pleasure of an eager crowd, Yuvraj, the Player of the Tournament in India's 2011 ODI World Cup victory, stood next to the iconic bell outside the Bowlers' Writing Room in the Pavilion and carried out the honorary ceremony while looking stylish in a well-tailored suit.
Actor Hazel Keech, Yuvraj's wife, and other Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) administrators and members stood behind him. Brian Lara and Clive Lloyd, two legendary West Indies players, are also present for the ODI series final.
Also Read: Why Jasprit Bumrah Is Not Playing IND vs ENG 3rd ODI At Lord's?
Tradition of Lord’s bell
The MCC had advised spectators to stay tuned for the moment. "The five-minute bell will be rung by the former India international Yuvraj Singh," the MCC had stated in an official pre-match announcement.
In order to signal that there are five minutes left before the day's play begins, an international cricket player, administrator, or well-known sports fan is invited to ring the Lord's bell. This custom was established in 2007.
Yuvraj's attendance at the "Home of Cricket" brought back memories of his historic NatWest Series final victory for India in 2002, where he blasted 69 off 63 balls. During his outstanding international career, Yuvraj played for India in 40 Test matches, 304 ODIs, and 58 T20Is.
Yuvraj Singh also won the Player of the Tournament in India’s 2011 World Cup win and was part of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup win as well. Yuvraj Singh is not the only Indian cricketer who has rung the bell at Lord's. Earlier, notable Indian cricketers including Sachin Tendulkar, Ravi Shastri, and Sourav Ganguly have also had the honor.
England wins the toss and chooses to bat first at Lord’s
England captain Harry Brook won the toss and chose to bat first and made one change, bringing in Josh Tongue for Saqib Mahmood. On the other hand, India made three changes, bringing in KL Rahul, Arshdeep Singh and Prince Yadav for Washington Sundar, and Jasprit Bumrah.
This is a big test for both teams. India, who hold the top spot in ODIs worldwide, will be hoping to overcome their recent difficulties at Lord's, where they haven't won an ODI since 2004, and score a rare series victory on English soil. England will be eager to use their home advantage and recent momentum to win the series, especially since they are ranked 7th in the world.
Also Read: For The 1st Time In Gautam Gambhir’s Coaching, India Takes Massive Decision In Lord’s ODI
