India’s Test captain Shubman Gill has broken a long-standing record held by legendary batter Rahul Dravid, becoming the highest run-scorer for India in a Test series in England. This remarkable feat came even as Gill struggled in the final session of Day 4 in the third Test at Lord’s.
In contrast to his stellar knocks in Leeds and Birmingham, Gill couldn’t make an impact at Lord’s. He was dismissed by a fiery delivery from England pacer Brydon Carse, ending his innings at just 6 runs. But despite this low score, Gill reached a major personal milestone. He surpassed Dravid’s record of 602 runs, which was set during India’s 2002 tour of England. Former skipper Virat Kohli now holds the third spot with 593 runs from the 2016 tour.
Stunning Series Numbers for Gill
Gill, who now bats at number four, has scored 607 runs in just three Tests, averaging an outstanding 101.17. His performance includes three impressive centuries, and with two more matches left in the series, Gill has a genuine chance of reaching the rare milestone of 1,000 runs in a single series.
Early Collapse During a Tricky Chase
India, chasing a target of 193 runs, had already lost two wickets for just 41 runs when Gill came to bat. His job was to build a strong partnership with opener KL Rahul and stabilize the innings. However, Carse bowled a sharp delivery that moved in quickly, trapping Gill in front of the stumps. Gill’s footwork was frozen, and he was struck on the pads right in front of the middle stump.
After consulting KL Rahul, Gill decided to review the umpire’s decision. But the replay showed that the ball had narrowly missed the bat, struck his knee roll, and was going on to hit the stumps. As a result, the Indian captain had to walk back for just 6 runs off 9 balls.
India Struggles Late in the Day
Following Gill’s dismissal, India sent in Akash Deep as a nightwatchman to survive the remaining minutes of the day. He managed to play out 10 deliveries, keeping England at bay for a short while. However, tension remained high as players from both sides showed visible frustration.
Just before stumps, England captain Ben Stokes delivered a crucial blow by knocking over the off-stump, adding more pressure to India’s chase. The visitors ended the day at 58/4, still needing 135 more runs to win the match on the final day.
