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 agonising 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.”
Gill said the finger injury suffered by Rishabh Pant in the third Test against England is not overly serious and the wicketkeeper-batsman should be able to play in the next match in Manchester.
Pant injured the index finger of his left hand when trying to collect a delivery from Bumrah during England’s first innings at Lord’s.
Pant completed the over but did not keep wickets afterwards, though he batted in both innings. Dhruv Jurel replaced him behind the stumps for the remainder of the test, which England won by 22 runs to go 2-1 up in the five-match series.
“Rishabh went for scans and there is no major injury there,” Gill told reporters.
“I think he should be fine for the next test match.”
England call up Dawson to replace injured Bashir: England have recalled spinner Liam Dawson for next week’s fourth Test against India after the injured Shoaib Bashir was ruled out for the rest of the series.
Dawson made the last of his three Test appearances eight years ago, but the 35-year-old is in line for an unexpected return to the international stage at Old Trafford.
Despite having already broken the little finger on his left hand, Bashir took the winning wicket.
Agencies