During the India vs England third Test at Lord’s, tensions flared in the final moments of Day 3 as India captain Shubman Gill grew visibly frustrated with England opener Zak Crawley’s time-wasting tactics. With only six minutes remaining, Crawley delayed the game by taking an extended time to take guard and twice halting bowler Jasprit Bumrah’s run-up, which provoked anger among the Indian players. Gill confronted Crawley from the slip cordon, using strong language and gestures to express his displeasure.
The situation escalated when Crawley called for the physio in an apparent attempt to waste time, despite there being just enough time for one more delivery before stumps. In response, Gill made a hand signal suggesting Crawley be substituted if genuinely injured. This led to a heated exchange between Crawley and Gill, with Crawley receiving support from his opening partner Ben Duckett. The confrontation ended with both sides standing face-to-face, while India’s KL Rahul attempted to de-escalate the situation.
This incident was arguably a culmination of earlier delays during the match, as umpires had permitted several unscheduled breaks and other interruptions during India’s innings. The mounting frustration on both sides highlighted the tension surrounding the match’s progress and England’s efforts to slow the game as the day drew to a close.
