Shubman Gill, India’s Test captain, had been a standout performer in the earlier matches of the England series, scoring a total of 585 runs that included massive innings of 269, 161, and 147. However, his momentum did not continue during the third Test at Lord’s.
On Day 4, during India’s second innings, Ben Stokes, England’s captain, tried to get into Gill’s head by delivering sharp sledges. As Gill arrived at the crease with India at 41/2, Stokes targeted him, saying, “600 runs and he’s done for this series. 600 runs is enough for this fella.”
With 607 runs in this series, Shubman Gill is already the highest run-scorer for India in a Test series in England 😳 pic.twitter.com/7pWf1p6CYN
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 14, 2025
He even added that Gill was “done for the series.” Sadly for Gill, he couldn’t turn the situation around. He had an uncertain nine-ball stay and was eventually dismissed LBW by Brydon Carse for just 6 runs, failing to counter either the challenging pitch or the mental pressure.
India’s Strong Bowling Sets Up the Chase
Earlier in the day, India’s bowlers set the stage perfectly by dismissing England for 192 in their second innings. Washington Sundar was the standout performer, claiming 4 wickets for just 22 runs. He removed key English players like Joe Root, Jamie Smith, and Ben Stokes.
The balanced effort from India’s bowling lineup meant that the visitors needed just 193 runs to win and take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. This came after both teams posted equal scores of 387 in the first innings. The game was perfectly poised, but as the Indian team walked in to bat, they faced a suddenly fiery and motivated English bowling attack.
Top-Order Collapse Complicates India’s Chase
The Indian innings began under pressure and quickly spiraled into trouble. Yashasvi Jaiswal, the dynamic opener, was dismissed for a seven-ball duck after mistiming a hook shot against Jofra Archer, which was caught by Jamie Smith behind the stumps. Karun Nair was trapped LBW by Brydon Carse, and shortly after, Shubman Gill fell the same way.
To further worsen the situation, nightwatchman Akash Deep was clean bowled by Stokes in the final over of the day, adding to England’s momentum and drawing loud applause from the home fans. By stumps on Day 4, India was in a tense situation at 58/4, still needing 135 runs to win. However, KL Rahul remained unbeaten on 33, offering hope with his calm presence and elegant strokes as the match headed toward an exciting conclusion.
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