Reflecting on the narrow defeat, Gill said, \u201cThis is as close as a Test match can get. I\u2019m extremely proud of my boys. We fought till the very end. One 50-run partnership would have changed the game on its head.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India, chasing 193, were bowled out for 170 deep into the final session on Day 5, despite Ravindra Jadeja\u2019s unbeaten 61 and gritty stands with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Gill, watching from the dressing room, backed Jadeja\u2019s approach with the tail:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHe\u2019s very experienced. I didn\u2019t want to send him any message. He was batting brilliantly. I just wanted him to bat as long as he could with the tailenders.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Gill pointed to a few defining moments that swung the match England\u2019s way \u2014 notably Rishabh Pant\u2019s run-out in the first innings. \u201cThat was a huge moment,\u201d he said. \u201cAt one point, we thought we could get a 50-60 run lead, which would\u2019ve been crucial. We knew chasing anything around 150-200 wouldn\u2019t be easy on this pitch.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
England\u2019s fightback began with Joe Root\u2019s masterful 104 in the first innings, taking the hosts to 387 after being reduced to 44\/2. Root\u2019s 37th Test ton \u2014 his 11th against India \u2014 was supported by handy contributions from Jamie Smith (51) and Brydon Carse (56). Jasprit Bumrah returned with a fiery 5\/74, surpassing Kapil Dev\u2019s record for most away Test fifers by an Indian.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India matched the score with 387 of their own, riding on K.L. Rahul\u2019s second century in the third Test, Pant\u2019s fluent 74, and Jadeja\u2019s 72. Rahul and Pant added 141 under pressure \u2014 their third century stand in England, the most by an Indian pair.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The game tilted dramatically on Day 4 when India stumbled to 58\/4 by stumps. England\u2019s bowlers, led by Archer and Stokes, carried the momentum into Day 5, reducing India to 112\/8 before lunch. Still, Jadeja\u2019s defiance and Bumrah\u2019s 54-ball stand gave India a glimmer of hope. It ended in heartbreak when Shoaib Bashir, bowling with a broken finger, bowled Siraj \u2014 the ball trickling back onto the stumps after being dead-batted.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt was a matter of application,\u201d Gill said. \u201cIn that last one hour yesterday, especially the last two wickets, we could\u2019ve applied ourselves better. Even this morning, we needed one good stand, but it didn\u2019t come.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The game tilted dramatically on Day 4 when India stumbled to 58\/4 by stumps. England\u2019s bowlers, led by Archer and Stokes, carried the momentum into Day 5, reducing India to 112\/8 before lunch. Still, Jadeja\u2019s defiance and Bumrah\u2019s 54-ball stand gave India a glimmer of hope. It ended in heartbreak when Shoaib Bashir, bowling with a broken finger, bowled Siraj \u2014 the ball trickling back onto the stumps after being dead-batted.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
As the series heads to Old Trafford, India will look to regroup and find that one partnership that could finally tilt a tight Test in their favour.<\/p>\r\n\r\n