During the Lord’s Test, Shubman Gill was involved in a verbal exchange with England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has expressed support for Shubman Gill regarding the incident. On Day 3 of the third Test between England and India, tensions flared toward the close of play.
After India was bowled out, they were scheduled to bowl three overs before the day ended. However, England opener Zak Crawley appeared to fake an injury to slow down the game, resulting in only one over being bowled. This tactic didn’t sit well with India’s captain Shubman Gill, leading to a verbal confrontation with Crawley and Duckett.
In a thrilling finish, England won the match by 22 runs at Lord’s. The game went down to the final session of the last day as India mounted a fightback chasing 193 runs but were ultimately dismissed for 170, giving England a 2-1 lead in the series.
Ricky Ponting Supports Shubman Gill Amid Lord’s Test Verbal Exchange
On an episode of The ICC Review, former Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting expressed his support for Shubman Gill regarding the verbal altercation that took place during the Lord’s Test. Ponting explained that Gill was simply defending his team in his role as captain.
“That was a bit out of character compared to what I’ve seen from Shubman before. I’m sure everyone who witnessed it, and especially those who know him well, can agree that this isn’t his usual behavior,” Ponting remarked.
He added, “That was a captain standing up for his team, showing that this is his side now and setting the tone for how they want to play the game. I guess he also wanted to give a little back.”
Ponting also highlighted the intense media scrutiny during Test series in England, making it a challenging environment for players.
“Playing in the UK can be tough. Although the crowds love their cricket, they can also be among the most hostile anywhere in the world. Plus, the media pressure during major series, like the Ashes or England versus India, can be relentless,” he said.
Meanwhile, Shubman Gill has been in excellent batting form throughout the series, leading the run charts with 607 runs from three matches. Despite a low score in the Lord’s Test, he will be eager to bounce back in the upcoming match in Manchester.
The fourth Test between England and India is scheduled to begin on July 23 at Old Trafford, Manchester. India faces a significant setback as Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the series, while pacers Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh are unavailable for the fourth Test.
