Shubman Gill-led India are currently featuring in the third Test match against England, which is taking place at the iconic Lord's Stadium in England. India started Day 2 of the third Test with quick wickets, but the poor quality of the Dukes ball again grabbed the limelight as India captain Shubman Gill and speedster Mohammed Siraj were involved in an animated chat with the umpire over the quality of the ball provided.
India took the second new ball after 80 overs on Day 1 of the third Test. On Day 2, the visitors were seen unhappy with the condition of the new ball, which was around 10 overs old by then. The umpires changed the ball after it failed the hoop test.
After Gill and Siraj's animated chat with the umpire, cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar who is doing commentary duties in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 also backed India's claim for the ball.
"Even from here you can see that is not a 10 over old ball, that is like a 20 over old ball," Sunil Gavaskar said from the commentary box.
Ahead of the third Test against England, India vice-captain Rishabh Pant also slammed the quality of balls being used by England in the ongoing Test series, saying that he has never seen the red cherry go out of shape to this extent.
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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.
Coming back to the third Test, after opting to bat, England managed to score 251/4 on Day 1 of the Lord's Test. While writing this copy, England scored 341 runs, Brydon Carse (32) and Jamie Smith (45) are stitching a stand to get a good total.