Shubman Gill unleashed a sharp verbal attack on Zak Crawley, accusing the England opener of deliberately wasting time.
Shubman Gill Loses Cool as Tempers Flare Late on Day 3 at Lord’s
Shubman Gill is usually known for his composed demeanor, but what unfolded in the final moments of Day 3 of the Lord’s Test between India and England was anything but calm. Earlier in the day, India’s dominant batting performance left little room for drama, with Sanjay Manjrekar even calling England’s effort “disappointing” and lacking excitement.
Shubman Gill, however, appeared restless throughout India’s innings. Seen pacing near the Lord’s Balcony, chatting with Rishabh Pant and coach Gautam Gambhir, he seemed deeply involved in the team’s planning. That intensity finally surfaced near stumps as tensions escalated dramatically.
In England’s second innings, with just minutes left in the day, the contest took a heated turn. After India bowled out England for 387 to level the scores, England reached 2/0 at stumps — but not before Jasprit Bumrah’s opening over triggered controversy. Zak Crawley, on strike, consumed time with multiple delays. He took a double off the second ball, then repeatedly pulled away from his stance, complaining about a sight screen issue.
The delays visibly angered the Indian players. A fired-up Shubman Gill, positioned at second slip, shouted “Grow some f****** ba**s,” a remark caught clearly on the stump mic. Bumrah, frustrated, trudged back to his mark, while other Indian fielders added their own audible comments, escalating the drama at the close of play.
A dramatic, chaotic last over
The penultimate ball of the over—a sharp short delivery from Jasprit Bumrah—rose sharply and struck Zak Crawley’s glove. Crawley immediately called for the physio, prompting sarcastic slow claps from the Indian players aimed at his timing. Shubman Gill even approached Crawley, gesturing towards the pavilion, seemingly urging him to leave the field. Crawley responded defiantly, and Ben Duckett, the non-striker, stepped in to exchange brief words with Gill as both teams tried to prevent the situation from escalating further. Bumrah’s remaining deliveries remained hostile and probing, while Crawley appeared intent on stretching the final over, likely to ensure no more balls were bowled before stumps.
The intense confrontation capped an enthralling day of Test cricket, where India matched England’s first innings total of 387. KL Rahul’s century, supported by valuable contributions from Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja, kept India competitive. However, Jadeja’s dismissal sparked a late collapse with three wickets tumbling for just 11 runs.
With England now leading by two runs and all ten wickets in hand, the match remains finely balanced. Day 4 promises to be decisive in determining the outcome of this gripping contest.
