The third day of the Test match between India and England at Lord's witnessed a dramatic and controversial end, with former England players Michael Vaughan and Jonathan Trott criticizing Shubman Gill and the Indian team following a confrontation between Gill and Zak Crawley. The incident, which involved accusations of time-wasting by Crawley, led to heated exchanges and strong reactions from both sides.
The controversy erupted in the final over of the day after India were all out for 387, matching England's first-innings total. With six minutes remaining, India aimed to bowl two overs at England before the close of play. However, Crawley allegedly employed delaying tactics, which frustrated the Indian team. He pulled away from his stance multiple times while Jasprit Bumrah was bowling, complaining about the sight screen.
Gill, the Indian captain, responded with an aggressive outburst, which was caught on the stump mic. He shouted, "Grow some f** bas," at Crawley. Crawley then was hit on the glove and called for the team physio, which further enraged the Indian team, who responded with sarcastic applause. Gill then walked towards Crawley and gestured towards the pavilion, seemingly mocking him. Ben Duckett intervened as Crawley responded to Gill.
Former England players have weighed in on the incident, with some criticizing Gill's behavior. Jonathan Trott stated, "I don't like the acting from Shubman Gill, as a captain you set the tone". He added, "Pointing fingers and getting very confrontational, very much like a previous captain before getting in the face of the opposition. I am all for being competitive and being tough on the field, sometimes you have to rise above it".
KL Rahul, however, dismissed Crawley's actions as "theatrics". He acknowledged India's eagerness to bowl two overs, hoping for a late wicket. "There were six minutes left. It is a no-brainer that any team will bowl two overs with six minutes to go, but it was a bit of theatrics at the end," Rahul said.
The incident has sparked debate about the spirit of the game and the boundaries of on-field aggression. Some observers believe Gill's reaction was excessive and unbecoming of a captain, while others argue that Crawley's time-wasting tactics justified India's frustration.
The match itself is tightly contested. KL Rahul's century and half-centuries from Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja helped India match England's first-innings total. England's bowlers fought back, with Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse taking wickets. With the scores level, the remaining two days promise a tense battle for victory.
The confrontation between Gill and Crawley has added spice to the series, with many anticipating further drama as the Test match unfolds. Whether the incident will fire up both teams or lead to further controversies remains to be seen.
