Shubman Gill Slams England’s 90-Second Delay in Lord’s Test
India’s captain, Shubman Gill, has strongly criticized England’s time-wasting tactics during the third Test at Lord’s, particularly their decision to arrive 90 seconds late to the crease. In his pre-match media interaction ahead of the fourth Test in Manchester, Gill clarified the situation, calling the delay “not in the spirit of the game.”
Gill’s comments came after England’s opening batsmen, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, took an excessive amount of time before coming to the crease on Day 3. With seven minutes of play remaining, the two English batsmen delayed their arrival, which led to frustration from the Indian team. Gill highlighted that it was not a matter of just a few seconds, but a blatant 90-second delay, something he felt went against the fair play expected in Test cricket.
Gill Explains the Frustration Behind His Outburst
Shubman Gill addressed the growing media chatter surrounding the confrontation between the Indian and England teams. He made it clear that the aggressive outburst was a result of repeated delays and not an isolated event. “It wasn’t something that came out of nowhere,” Gill said, explaining the build-up that led to the tense exchange.
He further emphasized that, while teams might use delaying tactics, there is a manner in which it should be done. “If you get hit on your body, the physios are allowed to come on, which is fair,” Gill added. However, he made it clear that the 90-second delay was unacceptable and took away from the integrity of the game.
Shubman Gill Responds to England’s Verbal Retaliation
The verbal confrontation between Gill and Crawley was heightened when Jasprit Bumrah sarcastically clapped at Crawley for the delay, and words were exchanged between Duckett and Indian players. Gill, in his first series as Test captain, had words with Crawley, urging him to “show some guts.”
Despite the fiery moment, Gill explained that it wasn’t something he was proud of. He acknowledged the emotional intensity of playing a high-stakes game and how frustrations can surface during crucial moments. “We didn’t intend to do that,” Gill admitted. “But you are playing to win, and emotions do get the better of you sometimes.”
With England captain Ben Stokes also weighing in, stating that England wouldn’t hold back from responding verbally, the stage is set for another intense encounter in the upcoming fourth Test.
As the fourth Test approaches, all eyes will be on how the teams handle their emotions and the on-field tensions. For now, Shubman Gill has made his stance clear, and it remains to be seen how England will respond when the two sides face off in Manchester.
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