Shubman Gill Lashes Out At Umpire, Match Officials Left Red-Faced After Controversial Move Thwarts India

Shubman Gill lashed out at the umpire |courtesy - screengrab

KEY HIGHLIGHTS Indian players were furious with the umpire's decision

The umpire's choice was questioned

Shubman Gill voiced his concern

Shubman Gill was left fuming as the umpire made a controversial move following India's dream start to play on the second Day of the third Test against England at the Lord's Cricket Ground on Friday (July 11) as Jasprit Bumrah gave the visitors a dream start with three wickets as Ben Stokes, Joe Root, and Chris Woakes departed early.

At that point, the umpire bizarrely opted to change the ball after determining that the ball had lost its shape. It is worth noting that this is the second new ball that India took late on Day 1, and it was just 10.3 overs old when the umpires opted to change it.

However, the Indian captain Gill was not happy with the change and was seen having a heated chat with the umpire. The Indian players were displeased at the ball chosen by the match officials, with questions over whether it was the correct replacement for a new ball.

The effects of the change were noted in a graphic by the broadcaster, which showed that there was a drastic change in effectiveness.

During this Test series, the Indian players have been unhappy with the ball and called for it to change multiple times; on most occasions, that request has been turned down by umpires or delayed for a significant amount of time. This time around, it is disputed, who asked for the change.

The umpires were further left red-faced as the replaced ball lasted even less time than the orginal ball and had to be once again changed in the 98th just and was used after just seven overs.

The Dukes Ball Drama

Dukes have come under the scanner with understandable concerns that something is not right with the batch being used in the 2025 season.

Ahead of the Lord's Test, Indian vice-captain Rishabh Pant had called the balls not good for cricket, while Stokes was not happy with the ball gauge being used by the umpire.

"Definitely. I feel it's a big problem because the ball is getting out of shape. But at the same time, it is not up to us because when you are leaving, you see the ball. You can see it is 'D' shaped. But the rules are like such. Utill and unless someone changes it. It is not up to the players," said Pant.

“We are not the only. Whenever we have touring teams come here, there is an issue around the balls going soft, going out of shape. I don’t even think that the rings that we use are Dukes rings. Something that is not ideal but yeah, you have got to deal with it. You know, you obviously, if you feel that the ball has gone out of shape, then you are going to check it with the umpire and if it goes through the rings, it goes through the rings and you crack on and then hopefully, eventually, it gets that badly out of shape that you are able to change it," said Stokes.

“But yeah, everyone, the bowling team, seemed to struggle with it. It seemed the big issue last week at Edgbaston. But yeah, it is what it is. If it fits through, we keep going. If it doesn’t, then we get a new one," Stokes added.

After India's win at Edgbaston, Gill had also lamented the condition of the ball and claimed the game was losing its essence.

“It is very difficult for the bowlers. I think more than the wicket, maybe the ball is out of shape very quickly. It gets soft very quickly. I don't know what it is, whether it is wickets or whatever. It is difficult for the bowlers. It is very difficult to get a wicket in such conditions, when there is nothing there," said Gill.

“And as a team, when you know that it is difficult to get a wicket, when you know that it is difficult to get a wicket in such conditions, a lot of things are out of your control. There should be a little help for the bowlers. If the ball is doing something, then you can plan something in some way, and then it is fun to play," Indian skipper was forthright in his assessment. If you know that only the first 20 overs or something will happen, after that you are on the defensive all day, you are thinking all day about how to stop the runs. Then the essence of the game comes out of it,” Gill added.

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