Sunil Gavaskar Slams British Media, Defends Shubman Gill & India in Ball-Change Row: “Even from Here…”

Sunil Gavaskar Slams British Media, Defends Shubman Gill & India in Ball-Change Row: The Dukes ball was under the spotlight on Day 2 of the ongoing third Test at Lord’s. Day 2 saw a unusual subplot, where the visitors kept asking for the ball to be changed. Team captain Shubman Gill was visibly annoyed and went to the umpires multiple times and asked them to inspect the ball. The same process kept repeating, the umpire would pass the ball through the ring gauge and sometimes would go for a chance and sometimes wouldn’t.

The first session of Day 2 saw it happen multiple times which has also raised questions over the shape of the ball.

Some former England cricketers have slammed the Indian team for continuously asking for the ball to be changed. The English media has also targeted Gill and Co.

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But India legend Sunil Gavaskar rushed to the Indian team’s defence. Speaking on-air, he said, “Even from here you can see that is not a 10-overs old ball, that is like a 20-overs old ball. If this would have happened in India... where if there were not enough balls similar to the ones replaced, the British Media would have certainly made a big deal out of it.”

On Sky Sports, former England captain Nasser Hussain said there is a ‘big problem’ with the Dukes ball. “There is a serious issue with the Dukes ball - both captains talked about it before the game and in this session it has been changed twice. But I think the ball is changed too often. I think we are getting a bit precious about cricket balls, getting addicted to having the perfect cricket ball for 80 overs,” he said.

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“In the history of the game, a cricket ball gets old and it gets soft. Go back generations and opening batters see off the new ball and it gets easier. Bumrah was unplayable in the first hour and had a Dukes ball that was doing something.

“I looked up from my laptop at the back of the comms box and went 'they are changing the ball?!' Why would you change a ball that is doing something? When you have got something, stick with it! They didn't,” he added.

Only 75 overs were bowled on Day 2 and 22 overs have been lost across two days. India lost two wickets in the last session and Karun Nair once again failed to capitalize on a good start.

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