India skipper Shubman Gill admitted that one solid stand could have changed the game decisively in their favor, after a heart-stopping 22-run defeat against England in the third Test at Lord's. The victory gave England a 2-1 advantage in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series.
Speaking after the loss, Gill stated, "This is as close to a Test match can get. I'm very proud of my boys. We fought till the end. One 50-run partnership would have turned the game upside down.
Chasing 193 on a testing final-day pitch, India fell short by just 22 runs, ending at 170 all out late on Day 5. Despite a fighting unbeaten 61 from Ravindra Jadeja and determined lower-order resistance from Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, India couldn't quite pull off the win. Gill praised Jadeja’s approach and opted not to interfere from the dressing room.
"He's extremely experienced. I didn't want to send him any message. He was batting extremely well. I just wanted him to bat as long as possible with the tailenders," Gill said.
One of the game-changing moments, Gill talked about Rishabh Pant's run-out in the first innings as a significant one. "It was a massive moment," he stated. "At one stage, we were thinking of getting a 50-60 run lead, which would have been vital. We realized running anything close to 150-200 behind on this wicket would not be easy."
England fought their way back into the match after being 44/2 in their first innings, primarily due to Joe Root's classy 104 — his 37th Test century and 11th against India. Solid contributions from Jamie Smith (51) and Brydon Carse (56) took the score to 387. Jasprit Bumrah was exceptional with 5/74, surpassing Kapil Dev's record for the most five-wicket hauls in away Tests for an Indian bowler.
India equaled England's first-innings score, with K.L. Rahul holding firm with his second century of the series, as Pant's aggressive 74 and Jadeja's unflappable 72 added strength. Rahul and Pant shared a crucial 141-run partnership — their third century stand in England, the Indian pair's highest in the country.
But the momentum shifted on the penultimate day, when India slipped to 58/4 by stumps. England's bowlers — spearheaded by Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes — tightened the noose on Day 5, and by lunch, India were reeling at 112/8. Jadeja's stoic presence and Bumrah's dogged defense provided India with fleeting hope of a miracle finish.
It all came to a heartbreak when Shoaib Bashir, who was carrying a broken finger, picked the final wicket. His delivery awkwardly bounced, nicked Siraj's bat, and rolled back onto the stumps — recalling the dramatic endings this ground has seen in the past.
It was a question of application," Gill said. "In that last hour yesterday, particularly the last two wickets, we could have applied ourselves better. Even this morning, we required one good partnership, but it didn't materialize.
Despite the defeat, Gill remains upbeat about the team’s performances and their prospects in the series. “Sometimes the series scorecard doesn’t reflect how well you’ve played. We’re really excited for the rest of the series.”
When asked about Jasprit Bumrah’s availability for the upcoming fourth Test at Old Trafford, Gill offered a cryptic smile: “You’ll get to know pretty soon.”
As the battle moves to Manchester, India will be hoping to reform and rekindle the level of consistency that can transform a close game into a statement win.
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