India’s defeat at Lord’s broke the hearts of the fans, and the pain of this defeat was most visible on the face of Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant.
England defeated India by 22 runs in the third Test, and took a 2-1 lead in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
But in the story of this defeat, a run-out controversy, Pant’s just 9 runs in the second innings, and his emotional message remain the center of discussion.
The last day of the match was very exciting. India had to chase a target of 193 runs, but at 147/9 the team was on the verge of defeat. Ravindra Jadeja (61 runs, not out) and Mohammad Siraj raised hopes in the last session.
But then Siraj was dismissed by Shoaib Bashir. The ball touched the leg bail, and India collapsed for 170 runs. Jadeja batted brilliantly for four hours, but victory was not destined.
Run-Out Drama Steals the Show
Pant’s run-out in the first innings was the turning point of this match. Before lunch on the third day, Pant was trying to take a quick second run with KL Rahul (99 runs). But due to a wrong call, Pant was out for 74 runs.
Captain Shubman Gill called it a “mistake of decision” and said that it was not a desire for a personal record. Gill said,
“Pant’s run-out became the biggest reason for our defeat. We thought that we could take a lead of 50-100 runs in the first innings, which would have benefited us.”
Pant scored only 9 runs in the second innings, which disappointed the fans. But his fighting spirit and energy on the field were excellent as always.
After the defeat, Pant shared an emotional post on social media:
“We gave our best, but sometimes the game does not go with you. Test cricket never fails to teach.”
Gill also defended Pant and said, “It was not a matter of personal achievement. It was just a wrong decision, which can happen to anyone.”
This defeat at Lord’s put India behind in the series, but Pant and Jadeja’s fighting innings showed that the morale is intact even after losing.
