Shubman Gill confronted Jack Crawley over England's time-wasting tactics in the final over of the third Test, leading to a tense atmosphere on the field.
IND vs ENG: The third day of the third Test match between India and England concluded in an unexpected manner, deviating from the usual norms of Test cricket. The final minutes of the day's play were as intriguing as the match itself. A heated exchange between Indian captain Shubman Gill and England's opening batsman Jack Crawley stunned spectators.
First Innings Draw, High-Voltage Contest
In this Test at the historic Lord's ground, both teams had leveled the scores in the first innings, scoring 387 runs each. Joe Root scored a century for England, while KL Rahul played a brilliant innings for India. Just before the end of the third day, England's team began their second innings, and with it, the drama that created a buzz from social media to sports circles.
Mischief Begins in Bumrah's Over
Jasprit Bumrah took the responsibility of bowling the final over for India on the third day. Jack Crawley and Ben Duckett opened the innings for England. As Bumrah prepared to start the over, Jack Crawley deliberately started delaying taking strike. He didn't take his batting position and kept moving away from the field. This was clearly an attempt to slow down the game so that England wouldn't have to face more balls.
Crawley Runs Off Field, Gill's Anger Erupts
After two balls from Bumrah, Crawley scored two runs, but immediately after, he ran off the field. This action did not sit well with the Indian players. Shubman Gill, who was fielding in the slips, said something in a loud voice, causing a stir in the English camp. Bumrah then bowled the third and fourth balls, but Crawley repeatedly moved away from the crease and wasted time.
Injury on the Fifth Ball and Applause from Indian Players
Bumrah bowled a short ball on the fifth delivery, which hit Crawley's gloves directly. He appeared to be a little uncomfortable and the physio was called. Meanwhile, the Indian players started applauding, which created psychological pressure for England. In this atmosphere, Shubman Gill went directly to Jack Crawley and said some sharp words. Crawley did not back down in responding. Ben Duckett had to intervene.
Indian Team United, Stands with the Captain
After Gill's reaction, the Indian team fully supported him. Kohli, Siraj, and Ravindra Jadeja, along with the other players, also went there and surrounded the English players. Although the matter didn't escalate further, this scene brought a special kind of energy to the field. This stance of Gill clearly demonstrates that he is not only a young captain, but also not behind in leading the team.
Over Finally Ends, but Questions Remain
Bumrah ended the day's play by bowling the last ball. England scored only two runs in one over, and those also came from Jack Crawley's bat. But the question is, was this time-wasting tactic by England justified? Are the norms of Test cricket being broken by such moves?
