London : On Tuesday, the Indian men’s and women’s cricket teams were graciously hosted by King Charles III at Clarence House, just a day after India’s heart-wrenching 22‑run defeat to England in the third Test at Lord’s .
Captain Shubman Gill, accompanied by deputy captain Rishabh Pant, shared with the monarch the emotional highs and lows of the match that ended with Mohammed Siraj being bowled when the ball spun back onto the stumps—a dismissal King Charles described as “quite unfortunate” .
“He told us the way our last batsman got out was very unfortunate… the ball rolling onto the stumps. He asked us how we felt after that,” Gill recounted .
The King’s remark reflected the narrow margin of India’s loss, and his expression of sympathy underscored his keen following of the intense contest—he had even watched the final wicket highlights before meeting the team .
India’s gripping chase of a modest 193 fell tantalizingly short, despite a gritty 61* from Ravindra Jadeja and commendable tail-end resistance from Bumrah and Siraj . England pressed on, spearheaded by Shoaib Bashir (with a broken finger) taking the final wicket, and Ben Stokes delivering all‑round heroics .
Gill also praised the spirit of the match, calling it a celebration of Test cricket’s resilience and intensity where both sides “played with a lot of passion and pride” .
Joining the men’s team, India’s women’s side—fresh from their historic 3–2 T20I series win in England—also attended the reception. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and coach Amol Muzumdar described the meeting as “humbling” and praised the King’s warmth and friendliness .
The high-profile gathering was part of a special event hosted by the British Asian Trust at Clarence House, reflecting broader cultural and sporting ties .
Looking forward, the men’s team will regroup in Manchester for the fourth Test starting July 23, with hopes of a turnaround, while the women’s squad heads back to Southampton for upcoming ODIs
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