India's cricket stars consoled by King Charles after Lord's defeat
LONDON/NEW DELHI: Britain's King Charles III commiserated with India's crestfallen cricket stars on Tuesday in the aftermath of their painful defeat against England at Lord's. Charles consoled members of the Indian team when he hosted them at his Clarence House home less than 24 hours after the third Test ended in an agonizing loss for the tourists. India, chasing 193 to win, were beaten by 22 runs in the final session of the last day.
India's Mohammed Siraj was the last man out when he attempted to block a delivery from Shoaib Bashir, only to see the ball spin back onto the stumps and dislodge a bail. The King told India captain Shubman Gill he had watched the crucial last wicket fall on television on Monday. He said in sympathy about the dramatic spin on the ball that dismissed Siraj; 'really annoying just to touch the bails'.
India trail 2-1 in the five-match series, with the fourth Test scheduled for Old Trafford next week before the finale at The Oval in London. Gill added: 'He did tell us that the way our last batsman got out was quite unfortunate - the ball rolling on the stumps, and he was just asking us how did we feel after that. 'And we told him it was an unfortunate match for us, but it could have gone either way and hopefully we'll have better luck in both the next games.'
Jadeja praised
Ravindra Jadeja was praised Tuesday for almost taking India to an unlikely Test win at Lord's, but former greats said a little more risk-taking with the bat might have got his side over the line. Jadeja, batting at number seven, hit a painstaking unbeaten 61 as he shepherded the tail from 112-8 at lunch chasing 193 for victory against England in the third Test.
But he eventually ran out of partners after more than four hours at the crease as India were all out for 170 after tea on a nerve-shredding final day. Jadeja, who came in at 71-5 and saw India slump to 112-8 at lunch, chose to protect Jasprit Bumrah and from England's attack by scoring singles to keep the strike and controlling his attacking instincts.
Former batting great Sunil Gavaskar said on Sony Sports that scoring quicker and putting pressure back on England's bowlers might have resulted in 'a partnership of 60-70 would have made a difference'. 'India never got that (partnership),' he said. 'You could say that Jadeja could have taken the odd chance and not necessarily the aerial route when Joe Root and Shoaib Bashir were bowling. But full marks to him (Jadeja).'
Jadeja hit just four fours and one six in his 181-ball stay before Bashir bowled number 11 Siraj to trigger jubilant England celebrations. 'I'd like to look a little deeper into that whole innings,' former batsman Sanjay Manjrekar said on ESPNcricinfo. 'There was one attempt at playing a shot that went for six. But I don't think there were too many attempted attacking shots. For me, one telling moment was when he got to his fifty and India were still a few runs short. You saw the reaction of the dressing room there were people applauding but I don't think there was excitement around and belief that Jadeja would take them through.'
India's greatest batsman Sachin Tendulkar lamented: 'So near, yet so far.' 'Jadeja, Bumrah, & Siraj fought all the way till the end,' he posted on X. 'Well tried, Team India. England played well to keep the pressure on and produced the result they desired. Congratulations on a hard-fought win.' — AFP
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