During the third Test match at Lord’s between India and England, India captain Shubman Gill was seen showing rare aggression on the field. With the series level at 1-1, tensions were already high. The heated moment happened on late on Day 3 when India had equaled England’s first-innings total of 387 runs and wanted to bowl two overs before stumps. However, England’s openers took extra time getting ready, which caused frustration in the Indian camp. Gill exchanged sharp words with Zak Crawley and then Ben Duckett, showing clear signs of anger. This reaction surprised many, including former Australian captain Ricky Ponting.
Ponting: Gill Trying to Show Leadership
Ponting, speaking to the ICC, said this behaviour was unlike what he had seen from Gill before. "That was a little out of character from what I’ve known from Shubman," Ponting remarked. Still, he felt that Gill’s reaction was about stepping up as captain and backing his team. “That’s a captain really wanting to show that it’s his team now,” Ponting explained.
Pressure of Playing in England
Having captained Australia in England, Ponting shared that playing in the UK can be very tough. “The crowd can be hostile, and the media is always watching closely, especially in a big series like India vs England,” he said.
Ponting believes the pressure may have pushed Gill to act more assertively, similar to how Virat Kohli led in the past. “He’s trying to put his own stamp on the team,” Ponting said, adding that while Rohit Sharma wasn’t usually outwardly aggressive to opponents, he had a different way of motivating his side.
India Trails Series, Next Test in Manchester
India lost the third Test narrowly by 22 runs, and now trail 2-1 in the five-match series. The fourth Test is set to begin on July 23 in Manchester, where Gill will once again lead the team as they aim to level the series.
