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In a special royal engagement that blended sportsmanship with tradition, King Charles III welcomed members of the Indian men’s and women’s cricket teams to Clarence House, London, on July 15, 2025, a day after India’s heartbreaking 22-run loss to England in the third Test at Lord’s.
What King Charles III said after Mohammed Siraj’s unfortunate Lord’s exit? Shubman Gill discloses
The 76-year-old monarch Charles, known for his interest in the arts and international affairs, took a keen interest in cricket during the interaction, particularly the recently concluded Test at the iconic Home of Cricket. The royal visit came at a crucial emotional juncture for the Indian side, offering a blend of light-hearted conversation and subtle reflection on the match’s fine margins.
During his exchange with India captain Shubman Gill, the King brought up the final moments of the Test match. India, chasing 193, had fought valiantly to reach 170 before the final wicket fell. It was Mohammed Siraj’s dismissal, bowled in an unusual fashion after Shoaib Bashir‘s delivery trickled onto the stumps, that ended India’s hopes. Recalling that moment, Gill said the King noted how unfortunate the dismissal was.
“It was amazing to meet King Charles III and he was very kind and generous to call us. We had some really good conversations. King Charles III told us that the way our last batsman got out in the previous test match was quite unfortunate, the ball rolling on the stumps… We told him that it was an unfortunate match for us and could have gone either ways. Hopefully, we will have better luck in both the next games,” Gill said to ANI.
King Charles greeted several key players from the men’s team, including Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ravindra Jadeja, as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir. In a particularly light moment, the King reportedly shared a laugh with Pant and Bumrah, demonstrating his warmth and approachable nature during the informal gathering.
#WATCH | London, UK | On meeting King Charles III, Team India skipper Shubman Gill says, "It was amazing to meet King Charles III and he was very kind and generous to call us. We had some really good conversations. King Charles III told us that the way our last batsman got out in… pic.twitter.com/M1Us18svHt
— ANI (@ANI) July 15, 2025
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Meeting with British actor Idris Elba and Anderson-Tendulkar trophy so far
The monarch didn’t just meet the men’s team. He also interacted with the Indian women’s cricket team, who are in England preparing for the ODI leg of their tour after scripting a historic 3-2 T20I series win. Before their meeting with the monarch, members of the Indian men’s team also ran into British actor Idris Elba. Known for his roles in Avengers, Luther, and The Wire, Elba had a brief but lively chat with Gill, Bumrah, and Pant.
India’s meeting with King Charles came just a day after a gut-wrenching Test defeat at Lord’s, which saw England take a 2-1 lead in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. While the wounds of the loss were still fresh, the royal reception helped lift spirits and offered a sense of recognition for the team’s valiant effort. The fourth game of the five-match series will take place at Old Manchester, starting on July 23 while the final will take place at Oval, London.
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