India walked into the final day of the third Test at Lord’s under immense pressure, reeling at 58 for 4. The task ahead was daunting—chase down 193 on a pitch misbehaving by the hour. All eyes were on KL Rahul, the set batter on 33, and the incoming Rishabh Pant, whose counter-attacking instincts have often scripted miraculous turnarounds in the past.

Before taking the field, Pant was seen in an animated conversation with skipper Shubman Gill. While discussions around strategy and composure are common in tense moments, former India head coach Ravi Shastri had a different view altogether. Speaking on Sky Sports, Shastri warned against overloading Pant with instructions.

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“Just let him go today, don’t even have a chat, that’s what will confuse him! His computer is working. He knows what to do. He’s got hundreds all around the world,” Ravi Shastri remarked, urging the management to let Pant play his natural attacking game.

What’s cooking between Captain Gill and his deputy? 👀#SonySportsNetwork #GroundTumharaJeetHamari #ENGvIND #NayaIndia #DhaakadIndia #TeamIndia #ExtraaaInnings pic.twitter.com/m5vnPiXunZ

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 14, 2025

However, it appears Pant may not have been allowed to embrace his instincts fully. After getting off to a brisk start with two boundaries, the left-hander was undone by a Jofra Archer beauty—angled in from wide of the crease and straightening off the seam at pace. The delivery zipped past Pant’s tentative prod and crashed into his off stump. Gone for 9 off 12, Pant’s early departure was a massive blow for India.

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The dismissal tilted the momentum firmly in England’s favour. From a position of strength after bundling England out for just 192 in their second innings, India now finds itself on the brink of defeat. With eight wickets down and only Ravindra Jadeja holding fort, India sits at 124/8—staring at a potential collapse.

Gill, who has otherwise been in sublime touch this series, failed to deliver when it mattered most, scoring 16 and 6 in his two innings. If India does end up on the losing side, Gill will miss out on joining the elite list of Indian captains to win at Lord’s—a list that includes the likes of Kapil Dev, Sourav Ganguly, and MS Dhoni.