Indian Captain Shubman Gill challenged the declining quality of the Duke balls and the lack of helping the pitch in the ongoing test series against England and warned that the essence of the test cricket was threatened. After leading India to a significant victory of the 336-Run in Edgbaston-is his first victory as Captain-Gill, he said that the flat playground and the fast-plating ball make the pitch to remain competitive.
Despite its own fruitful form – almost 600 runs in just four shifts – Gill said that the conditions should offer pitchors something to ensure a balanced competition.
“It is very difficult for the pitch.
Gill did not stay in his criticism in Dukes Ball, a traditionally valuable feature of a test cricket in England for his seams and a swing. Indian captain noted that the current version loses its bite too early and forces teams to defense thinking.
Birmingham Test Highlights | Scorecard
“And as a team when you know it is difficult to get a goal when you know it is difficult to get a goal under such conditions, many things are out of your control. It should be a little help for the pitch.
The 24-year-old warned that if the ball only offers help in the first 20 overs and soon flattens, the strategic depth and competitive nature of the test cricket suffer.
“If you know that only the first 20 overs or something will happen, then you are all day on the defensive, you are thinking about how to stop running. Then the essence of the game comes out of it.”
While he acknowledged that favorable launch conditions helped his personal sum, Gill could not help but draw an insolent comparison with Indian playgrounds.
“Yes, as if we played in India, most of them are friendly. It’s good to come here and get a good playground for a while (laughs).”
Looking forward at the third test on Lord’s starting 10th July Gill suggested that the conditions can move – possibly in favor of the pitch.
“We’ll see what kind of goal they score to the Lord. I don’t think he’ll give such a flat goal. That’s my feeling. But we’ll go there and decide to see what the goal is, what is the best possible combination.”
Gill also confirmed that Pace Spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who was resting for the Edgbaston test as part of the workload administration, will return to the third match in Lord’s.
– ends
Published:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
July 7, 2025
