The fifth and final Test between India and England began on July 31 at The Oval in London, but Day 1 didn’t go smoothly for the visitors.
Despite early signs of stability, a moment of misjudgment from India’s in-form batter Shubman Gill left the team in a tricky spot.
Former cricketer Murali Kartik believe this incident could turn out to be the key moment of the Test.
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Why was Shubman Gill’s run-out such a big moment?
Coming in to bat at No. 4 after India lost two quick wickets, Shubman Gill appeared settled and in good touch. He had already struck a few confident boundaries and was scoring at a good pace.
But on the second ball of the 28th over, Gill tried to sneak a quick single after nudging a full delivery from Gus Atkinson towards cover. The risk didn’t pay off.
Atkinson collected the ball and hit the stumps at the striker’s end with a direct throw and cuaght Gill short of his crease. He walked back after scoring 21 off 35 balls.
Murali Kartik, speaking on Cricbuzz, called the dismissal a crucial blow. He said Gill looked set and composed, and on a pitch where batting was tough, his presence could’ve helped India build a strong foundation.
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According to Kartik, this run-out gave England an opening that could’ve been avoided. He pointed out that a settled batter getting dismissed like that affects rhythm.
“Today, if you talk about the key moment in this match, it came when two wickets had fallen. Shubman Gill came in and the runs he scored, he scored them very confidently," said Karthik.
"On a wicket where we were saying it's quite difficult, he made 21 runs off 35 balls and looked very confident. He got out at a moment when the run wasn’t really there, and he went for it. Unfortunately for him, the bowler picked it up and got him run out directly,” he added.
How did Murali Kartik explain the impact of that wicket?
Kartik was clear in his view- it wasn’t just a wicket, but a moment that altered the flow of the day.
He also added that such dismissals are especially frustrating on pitches that require patience. Kartik noted that rain stoppages made things even more difficult, as players had to restart their focus multiple times.
“That was a very crucial moment because if he had stayed, who knows, the understanding between him and Sai Sudharsan might have continued. The most important thing is that on such a wicket, you don’t want to let the opposition back into the game," said Karthik.
"You want to build partnerships, and for a new batter coming in, it becomes very difficult to settle again. Today, with the rain interruptions and players going in and out, it was even tougher. Even on good wickets, once you settle into a rhythm, it’s hard to restart after a break. That’s why Shubman Gill’s run out was a big moment in the match today,” he added.
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Gill’s performances in IND-ENG series 2025
Despite the unfortunate dismissal, Shubman Gill has been one of the standout players of this Test series. In nine innings so far, he has scored 743 runs at an average of over 82, including four centuries.
His consistency has made him the leading run-scorer of the series. That’s why his run-out hurt India even more-a batter in such good form, falling to a needless run, was a big moment.