Ravi Shastri Defends Shubman Gill Amid Tensions with Zak Crawley in Third Test

In a thrilling encounter during the third Test at Lord's, tensions flared between Shubman Gill and Zak Crawley, prompting reactions from former captain Ravi Shastri. Gill accused Crawley of wasting time, leading to a heated exchange that caught the attention of fans and commentators alike. Tim Southee criticized Gill's actions, while Shastri defended him, emphasizing the competitive spirit of the game. As the match progresses, England seeks to build a lead against a formidable Indian bowling attack. Read on for a detailed account of the events that unfolded.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 13, 2025, 17:26 IST

Tensions Rise During Third Test at Lord's

Former Indian cricket captain and commentator, Ravi Shastri, shared his insights regarding the heated exchange between Shubman Gill and Zak Crawley during the third Test at Lord's on July 12. The incident occurred in the final over of Day 3 when Gill accused Crawley of intentionally 'wasting time' and disrupting Jasprit Bumrah's momentum, who was performing exceptionally well.

During the third delivery of that over, Crawley stepped away from his stance as Bumrah approached to bowl, which angered Gill, leading him to confront Crawley about his tactics.

Sarcastic Reactions and Heated Exchanges

The situation escalated when Gill and his teammates clapped sarcastically at Crawley after he was struck on the hand by a Bumrah delivery. Although Gill checked on Crawley, who required treatment from the team's physio, the English opener was displeased with the Indian players' reactions, resulting in a verbal confrontation with the Indian captain.

Ben Duckett and the on-field umpires stepped in to calm the rising tensions as Day 3 concluded dramatically at Lord's.

Tim Southee Critiques Shubman Gill

The altercation between Gill and Crawley became a significant topic of discussion. England's bowling consultant, Tim Southee, expressed his discontent during a press conference after Day 3, pointing out that Gill had received treatment on the field the previous day.

"I'm not sure what they were complaining about when Shubman Gill was lying down getting a massage in the middle of the day yesterday," Southee remarked, emphasizing that such tactics are part of the game, especially towards the end of the day.

Ravi Shastri Supports Shubman Gill

In response to the criticism from the England camp, Ravi Shastri defended Gill's actions. Speaking to Sky Sports at the start of Day 4, he stated that he would have reacted similarly if he were in Gill's position.

"If I were wearing the Indian hat, I would have done all that. We call that a tamasha. All that is allowed, and you want all that," Shastri explained, adding that a bit of competitive spirit is acceptable as long as it doesn't cross the line.

'I would have done all that too, a little bit of argy-bargy is okay!' Shastri remarked regarding the intense final over.

Match Update

Following India's first innings total of 387, England managed to level the score and ended Day 3 at 2/0, with Crawley and Duckett at the crease. The hosts now face the challenge of establishing a solid lead on a difficult pitch against a disciplined Indian bowling lineup as the match progresses into a crucial phase.