Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar came to the defense of the Indian team amid criticism from the British media regarding the repeated requests to change the Dukes ball during Day 2 of the ongoing third Test between India and England at Lord’s. The Indian captain, Shubman Gill, was seen approaching the umpires multiple times to have the ball inspected, as concerns arose over its condition. Gavaskar pointed out that the ball appeared to be much older than its stated usage and suggested that if a similar situation occurred in India, the British media would likely have reacted more strongly.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain also weighed in on the controversy during a Sky Sports broadcast, acknowledging that there is a genuine issue with the Dukes ball, which had been changed twice during the session. However, he criticized the frequency of ball changes, suggesting that cricket has become too fixated on maintaining a “perfect” ball for extended periods. Hussain emphasized that in cricket’s traditional context, the ball naturally wears out, making batting easier as the match progresses, and praised the early bowling performance of Jasprit Bumrah with the Dukes ball.
Despite the interruptions caused by ball changes, only 75 overs were bowled on Day 2, with a total of 22 overs lost over the first two days of the Test. India also lost two wickets in the final session, including a missed opportunity by Karun Nair, who could not build on a promising start. The ongoing debate highlights concerns over the ball’s condition and its impact on the pace and flow of the game.
