'Ball is getting out of shape...': Rishabh Pant slams quality of Dukes ball used in India vs England Tests

India vice-captain Rishabh Pant slammed the quality of the Dukes ball being used in the ongoing Test series against England, saying that he has never seen the red cherry go out of shape to this extent. Players approaching umpires to change balls has been a regular feature in the series, with Dukes losing shape.

The bowlers are not getting any help from the ball after it gets softer, confining the batter-bowler contest to the new ball. Ahead of the third Test match at Lord's Stadium in England, Pant said that the ball has become a big problem and it is not good for the game.

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"The gauge (to measure the balls) should be the same (whether its Dukes or Kookaburra. But it would be better if it was smaller (laughs). The balls are giving so much trouble. Definitely, I feel it's a big problem. Because the ball is getting out of shape," said Pant.

"What I've seen, the ball is getting de shaped too much. That has never happened like this to me. It's definitely irritating for the players because every ball plays differently because when it becomes softer, sometimes it's not doing too much. But as soon as it changes the ball, it's starting to do enough.

"As a batsman, you've got a keep on adjusting to it. But at the same time, I feel it's not good for cricket anyway," said the explosive batter.

The five-Test match series of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 is currently tied 1-1 after the Shubman Gill-led side registered a dominating 336-run win at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham. India opted for two spinners and three pacers for the Edgbaston Test, which they won by 336 runs. The Lord's pitch is expected to pose a tougher challenge for the batters.

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England have announced their playing XI for the third Test, where they have included Jofra Archer. The England speedster is making his Test comeback after more than four years. Archer's last Test appearance came in February 2021 against India in Ahmedabad.

England Men's Test XI:

⁠⁠Zak Crawley, ⁠Ben Duckett, ⁠Ollie Pope, ⁠Joe Root, ⁠Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), ⁠Jamie Smith (WK), ⁠Chris Woakes, ⁠Brydon Carse, ⁠Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir.