IND vs ENG: Shubman Gill violates ICC rule to risk heavy sanction on captaincy debut for India in 1st Test against England

Shubman Gill proved his batting prowess on his captaincy debut for India in the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds on Friday, June 20. He lived up to the expectation and led India from the front with a sensational knock to put his team in good stead. After bringing his fifty, Gill is well on course of a historic century as Team India are placed at 276/3 as of 70 overs. However, despite a cracking start to his captaincy with the bat, Gill made a blunder which might see him bearing International Cricket Council's (ICC) brunt. The 25-year-old might face disciplinary action from ICC for a breach of dress code regulations.

The potential violation stems from Gill's choice of socks during the match. Contrary to the traditional white socks worn with Test whites, he was seen sporting black socks. This is not permitted under the ICC's regulations, which follow recommendations from the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the body responsible for the laws of cricket. According to clause 19.45 of the ICC's Clothing and Equipment Rules and Regulations, players are required to wear white, cream, or light grey-colored socks in Test matches, a rule that came into effect in May 2023.

The decision on whether Shubman Gill will face a fine rests with the match referee, Richie Richardson, for the first Test between India and England. If the match referee notes the dress code violation, the Indian Test captain could be penalised. For this to occur, the referee would need to consider it a deliberate Level 1 offense. If deemed so, the fine could range from 10 per cent to 20 per cent of his match fee.

However, if Gill's choice of black socks was unintentional, perhaps due to his white socks being wet, he might avoid any penalty. The final outcome depends on the match referee's interpretation of the situation. It's worth noting that a Level 1 offense can result in a fine of up to 50 per cent of the match fee, along with possible demerit points, while more severe Level 2 offenses can lead to higher fines and even bans, although such penalties are less common for clothing-related issues unless coupled with other forms of misconduct.