Tensions are escalating between India and England as they head into the fourth Test match at Old Trafford. India's captain, Shubman Gill, has publicly accused the England team of violating the "spirit of the game" during last week's third Test at Lord's.

Gill's অভিযোগ centers on England's perceived delaying tactics during the final seven minutes of play on the third day of the Lord's Test, which England won by 22 runs, giving them a 2-1 lead in the series. Specifically, he called out England batsmen Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett for being late to the crease.

According to Gill, Crawley and Duckett were 90 seconds late in getting to the crease. Gill acknowledged that teams often try to play fewer overs in such situations, but he argued that there's a right and wrong way to go about it. He stated that while calling for a physio after getting hit is acceptable, arriving late to the crease is not in the spirit of the game.

The specific incident that sparked further animosity occurred when Crawley repeatedly pulled out of his stance while facing Jasprit Bumrah and then called for the team physio after being struck on the finger. This led to Gill shouting an obscenity at Crawley.

Gill hinted at other issues leading up to the incident that fueled India's hostility toward Crawley and Duckett. He stated that certain things that should not have happened had occurred, building up to the flashpoint. While Gill admitted he wasn't proud of the incident, he emphasized that it didn't happen without provocation, stating, "there was a lead-up and build-up to that – it didn't just come out of nowhere".

The "spirit of cricket" refers to unwritten principles that are deeply embedded in the sport's history, meant to guide how the game should be played. However, interpretations of these principles can vary, leading to disagreements. England batter Harry Brook revealed that the incident motivated his team to display more aggression during India’s chase of 193, in which they were eventually all out for 170.