Trisha Ghosal in London
After five gruelling days and a see-saw final session, India came up just 22 runs short in the third Test at Lord’s, handing England a narrow win and a 2-1 lead in the series. At the heart of India’s heartbreak was a controversial moment: the run-out of Rishabh Pant for 98 before lunch on Day 3, triggering a middle-order collapse. In the post-match press conference, Indian captain Shubman Gill fielded questions ranging from that run-out to the team’s missed moments and the emotional aftermath.
Was the run-out about the milestone?
Gill was quick to clarify that Pant’s run-out wasn’t driven by a personal goal. “It wasn’t about Rahul wanting to reach a hundred before lunch,” he said. “It was just an error of judgment. Rishabh made the call, and KL responded. These things happen. We don’t make decisions based on milestones—we talk a lot about team-first thinking.”
What went wrong with the top order?
“We didn’t bat well in the first hour yesterday or this morning,” Gill admitted. “If we had even one solid 40–50 run partnership at the top, chasing that target would have become easier in the last session. But that’s how Test cricket works—small margins, big impact.”
Does this match change India’s settled XI?
Gill believes the core group remains intact. “We’ve got a settled 12, and we’ll decide the XI based on conditions and workload. Siraj has played a lot of cricket, so we’ll have to assess that going forward.”
Did England cross the line with aggression?
“There was heat, but it’s part of the game,” Gill said, brushing off any controversy. “Both teams want to win, and emotions run high. But there’s admiration at the end of it. We gave everything, and so did they.”
How did India approach the final chase?
“We were just trying to take the game deep,” Gill said. “With every 5–6 runs, the pressure on England increased. When Jaddu and Bumrah were batting, we believed. Even with Siraj, we thought if we could get close to the second new ball, anything could happen.”
Looking ahead to the rest of the series
“We might’ve won more days in the series, but the sessions we lost—we lost badly,” Gill reflected. “It’s about learning how to absorb pressure better. The series is still open, and it’s been one hell of a contest.”
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