Ball Change Controversy Erupts During Lord's Test; Shubman Gill Snatches Ball from Umpire
London(The Uttam Hindu): A major controversy erupted during the second day of the third Test match between India and England at Lord’s as Indian captain Shubman Gill clashed with the umpire over a disputed ball change. Tensions escalated so much that Gill reportedly snatched the ball from the umpire's hand in protest.
The incident occurred in the 91st over of England’s innings when pacer Mohammed Siraj complained that the ball had gone out of shape. This came just 10.3 overs after India had opted for a new ball. Upon inspection, umpire Sharfuddoula Saikat agreed and decided to replace it.
However, when the replacement ball was presented, Shubman Gill strongly objected, arguing that the new ball did not resemble a 10-over-old ball in condition — a requirement under the ICC playing conditions. He contended that the new ball looked significantly older, which could affect the team's bowling performance.
The umpire dismissed Gill’s concerns, prompting an agitated response. In a rare and dramatic moment, Gill snatched the ball from the umpire's hand and continued arguing. Siraj and Akash Deep also expressed dissatisfaction, claiming the replacement ball lacked the shine and grip of the original.
Commentating live, former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar backed Team India, saying,
"The ball they gave looked at least 20 overs old. It lacked shine and swing potential."
Cheteshwar Pujara, watching from the sidelines, observed that after the change, the Indian bowlers struggled to generate any movement, adding credibility to Gill’s protest.The incident has once again raised serious questions about the quality control of Dukes balls used in the series — an issue that has been under scrutiny in recent years.