Shubman Gill reveals why he lost his calm at England openers during Lord's Test

India’s Test captain Shubman Gill has openly expressed his frustration over England’s tactics during the third day of the Lord’s Test. The 25-year-old batter revealed that the England openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, arrived 90 seconds late to the crease, which led to an intense moment between the teams. Gill’s gestures during the incident went viral on social media and sparked debate over sportsmanship and the spirit of cricket.

Gill addressed the controversy ahead of the Manchester Test, stating that while every team tries to manage overs strategically, deliberately arriving late to the crease is unacceptable. He pointed out that India, too, might have considered slowing down the game in such a situation, but they would never cross the line by showing a lack of respect for time and the spirit of the sport.

Why Gill lost his cool on Day 3

The heated moment took place towards the end of Day 3 at Lord’s. England’s openers had to face the last few overs of the day, but their deliberate delay in walking to the crease upset the Indian players. “The English batsmen on that day had seven minutes of play left. They were 90 seconds late to come to the crease. Not 10, not 20, but 90 seconds late. Yes, most teams like to play fewer overs at the end of the day, but there’s a proper way to do it,” Gill said during the pre-match press conference.

The situation worsened when Zak Crawley further delayed the proceedings by complaining about the sightscreen and calling the physio after being hit on the fingers. Gill explained that while calling for medical assistance is fair and within the rules, the intentional delay in walking out to bat is not acceptable. “If you get hit on the body, the physios are allowed to come on. That is fair. But to come out late to the crease on purpose is not in the spirit of the game,” he said.

This incident led to visible frustration among the Indian players, with Gill being the most vocal. His gestures towards the English openers were caught on camera, and the video quickly spread across social media platforms. Some fans supported Gill’s reaction, while others felt that he should have handled the situation differently.

Gill defends his reaction but calls for fairness

In his statement, Gill clarified that his reaction did not come out of nowhere. He explained that there had been a build-up to the incident, with England’s delaying tactics gradually crossing the line. “It’s not something I am proud of, but there was a lead-up to that moment. It didn’t just come out of nowhere. We had no intention of doing anything unsporting, but when you are pushed like that, emotions can run high,” he added.

The Indian skipper further emphasised that cricket should be played in the right spirit. He said that while teams often use strategies to play out fewer overs towards the end of a day’s play, there are certain limits that should not be crossed. “Even if we were in that situation, we would have also tried to reduce overs. But there is a proper way to do it. Arriving late like that is not something we would consider,” Gill stressed.

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The incident has once again brought the topic of time-wasting and gamesmanship into focus. Over the years, several teams have used similar tactics to gain an advantage, especially in Test cricket. However, many players and experts believe that such actions affect the overall spirit and integrity of the game.

As India gears up for the Manchester Test, Gill’s comments have set the tone for a potentially fiery encounter. Both teams are currently engaged in a highly competitive series, with each side looking to gain the upper hand. Gill, who is leading India with an aggressive mindset, has made it clear that his team will not tolerate unnecessary gamesmanship from the opposition.

The Manchester Test is expected to be a key match in the series, and the Indian captain has urged his teammates to stay focused on their performance rather than getting distracted by such incidents. “We have moved on from what happened at Lord’s. Our focus is on the upcoming match. We want to play hard but fair cricket,” he said.

Fans and cricket experts are eagerly waiting to see if England will continue with similar tactics or if they will respond to Gill’s criticism with a change in approach. With tensions running high, the Manchester Test is likely to witness some intense moments between the two sides.

Shubman Gill’s remarks have highlighted an important aspect of Test cricket — the balance between strategy and sportsmanship. While slowing down the game is often a part of tactics, crossing the line to waste time can lead to unnecessary friction between teams. Gill’s open criticism of England’s delay on Day 3 of the Lord’s Test reflects his commitment to maintaining the spirit of cricket.

With the series still wide open, both India and England will aim to keep their focus on performance rather than off-field controversies. For Gill, the Manchester Test will be another opportunity to lead from the front and prove that his aggressive yet fair approach can bring India closer to victory.