India suffered a heartbreaking 22-run defeat against England in the third Test at Lord's, handing the hosts a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Despite a valiant effort from Ravindra Jadeja, who remained unbeaten on 61, India's batting lineup crumbled while chasing a target of 193.
Following the loss, India's captain, Shubman Gill, addressed the media, acknowledging the top order's failure to perform. Gill stated that the team needed at least one or two 50-run partnerships from the top order, but unfortunately, it didn't happen. He admitted that this was the first time in the series that the top order had collectively failed to deliver.
The defeat was particularly disappointing as India had fought hard to match England's first-innings total of 387, with valuable contributions from KL Rahul (100), Ravindra Jadeja (72), and Rishabh Pant (74). However, a batting collapse on the fourth evening and the first session on Day 5 cost India the match. India lost four wickets before lunch on the final day, with Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes doing the most damage. Archer dismissed Rishabh Pant with a brilliant delivery and also took a reflex catch to remove Washington Sundar. Stokes, on the other hand, claimed the crucial wicket of KL Rahul.
Gill praised Ravindra Jadeja for his exceptional performance, calling him one of India's most valuable players. He lauded Jadeja's experience, skillset, and composure under pressure. Jadeja's unbeaten 61 kept India in the game until the very end, but he lacked support from the other end as wickets kept falling.
The match was filled with drama and tension, with momentum swinging between the two sides. In the end, it was England's Shoaib Bashir who delivered the final blow, dismissing Mohammed Siraj to seal a thrilling victory for his team. Despite nursing a finger injury, Bashir returned to bowl the decisive over and break Indian hearts.
The defeat has sparked some controversy, with former England cricketer Jonathan Trott accusing Shubman Gill of "acting" and drawing parallels with Virat Kohli's theatrics. This stemmed from an incident on Day 3 when Gill confronted Zak Crawley for allegedly wasting time, leading to a heated verbal exchange.
Looking ahead, Gill expressed confidence in his team's ability to bounce back in the remaining two Test matches. He acknowledged that the series is still wide open and that India has plenty to offer. The team will need to address their batting woes and ensure that the top order steps up to the challenge in the crucial matches to come.
