The air of grieving was all across the UK, on everyone's faces and in households as they were struck by what would be a piece of painful news in their lifetime.
India, which leads the series 2-1, must draw the series to reserve the place in the final of the inaugural World Test Championship against New Zealand in June.
England had lost all the wickets on the first day of the final test match of the current tour which also has become a must-win match for the visitors to level the series.
If India wins the third Test, Virat Kohli will become India's most successful test captain at home and he would break the record of his predecessor MS Dhoni.