• Shubman Gill sparked fan outrage by citing Rishabh Pant's run-out as match changer in the Lord's Test.

  • India suffered a narrow 22-run defeat to England in the third Test.

ENG vs IND: Shubman Gill faces fans backlash after calling Rishabh Pant’s run-out the turning point in Lord’s Test
Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant (Image Source: X)

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India‘s narrow 22-run defeat to England in the third Test at Lord’s has left skipper Shubman Gill ruing one moment above all others, the run-out of Rishabh Pant. The dismissal, which broke a flourishing 141-run partnership between Pant and KL Rahul on Day 3, shifted the momentum dramatically, eventually paving the way for England’s stunning comeback win.

India, in a dominant position at 248/3, looked set to take a commanding lead in the first innings. Pant had been playing fluently on 74, while Rahul was on 99, nearing a well-deserved century. With just moments left before the lunch break, Pant attempted a quick single to get Rahul on strike, likely to help him bring up his hundred. But what seemed like a calculated risk quickly turned disastrous. A brilliant piece of fielding from England captain Stokes, who threw down the stumps with a direct hit, caught Pant short of the crease. The run-out not only ended Pant’s innings but also halted India’s momentum. The team collapsed from 248/3 to 387 all out, surrendering what could have been a game-defining first-innings advantage.

Shubman Gill: “It was Rishabh who called for the single”

Addressing the media after the match, Gill didn’t blame Rahul’s pursuit of a personal milestone, instead pointing to a simple lapse in judgment.

“We talk a lot about keeping the team’s interest ahead of personal milestones. But I think it was an error of judgment, rather than anything to do with scoring a hundred. Yes, a batsman feels pressure at 99, but it wasn’t about that,” Gill explained.

Rahul emphasized that Pant made the call for the run, and KL Rahul was left running toward the danger end, an unfortunate situation but not one driven by selfish intent. Despite the mistake, Gill acknowledged the importance of the partnership and admitted that Pant’s dismissal changed the course of the match.

“It was Rishabh who called for the single. KL Bhai was running at the dangerous end. It wasn’t about personal glory. These things happen in cricket, even to the best of batters. The most important moment for us was Rishabh’s run-out. At one point, we thought we could get a lead of 50 or even 100 runs. We knew batting on Day 5 wouldn’t be easy. The bigger the lead, the more pressure we could have put on England. That moment hurt us the most,” Gill concluded.

Also READ: ENG vs IND 2025: 3 reasons why India faced defeat in the Lord’s Test

Rishabh Pant shines in the ENG vs IND Test series despite misfortune

That single moment of miscommunication and misjudgment not only broke a century stand but opened the door for England’s resurgence. From that point onward, India’s middle and lower order failed to build on the platform. England capitalized, dismissed India for 387, and later defended a modest 193-run target on the final day in a nerve-wracking finish, with Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes leading the charge. India’s dreams of securing a 2-1 series lead were dashed, and instead, England marched ahead, leading the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy contest. For Gill and his team, the heartbreak at Lord’s will serve as a painful reminder of how even a single run or a single decision can swing a match in Test cricket.

While the run-out was a bitter blow, Pant’s performance in the series has been nothing short of exceptional. The southpaw is currently the second-highest run-getter in the series, amassing 425 runs in six innings at a staggering average of 70.83. His explosive style has also seen him register two centuries and two fifties, while maintaining a strike rate of 78.41, the highest among Indian batters on the tour.

Here’s how fans reacted:

Also READ: ENG vs IND: Jofra Archer spills the beans on his intense send-off to Rishabh Pant on Day 5 of Lord’s Test

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