'Quality of Dukes balls should be questioned': Fans furious as Shubman Gill engages in intense conversation with umpire

Indian cricket team captain Shubman Gill was furious and fans slammed the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on social media as the Dukes ball used during the India vs England third Test at Lord’s was replaced multiple times on Day 2. The Dukes ball losing its shape after just a few overs has been a major issue in the ongoing Test series between India and England.

Similar concerns were raised during the first two Tests at Headingley and Edgbaston, forcing the umpires to change the ball multiple times. On Day 2 of the Lord’s Test on Friday, Gill was yet again seen complaining about the shape of the new ball as he was engaged in an animated conversation with on-field umpire Sharfuddoula of Bangladesh.

The new ball that India got after 80 overs on Day 1 lasted only 63 deliveries before it was replaced after complaints from Gill and Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj, who was also quite furious with the quality of balls on offer in the ongoing Test series.

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Fans slams poor quality of Dukes balls

The worst thing is that the replacement ball lasted just 48 deliveries and was replaced once again.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar also expressed his disappointment over the quality of balls during the commentary. “Even from here you can see that is not a 10 over old ball, that is like a 20 over old ball,” Sunil Gavaskar said as India called for a replacement ball early on Day 2.

Besides Gill and Gavaskar, the Indian cricket team fans were also furious with the ECB and the quality of Dukes balls, as they called it a poor advertisement for international cricket.

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“Dukes ball getting more attention for all wrong reasons  than the #INDvENG test match Such a shame at international level @ECB_cricket,” a fan wrote on X.

Another fan said: “The quality of these Dukes Cricket Balls should be really questioned. Not a single innings without a change of balls in this series so far. There’s controversy even after changing the Ball. This is unacceptable, imagine if the same happened with Indian SG balls.”

Here are some more reactions:

These Dukes balls are absolute dog shit and manifestly unfit for purpose. @ECB_cricket surely has to terminate their contract?#teamindia🇮🇳#engvsind

— Sunil Awasthi (@sa9321) July 11, 2025

Another ball change after 42 deliveries. The first ball was changed after 63 deliveries. Not the best advertisement for Dukes. pic.twitter.com/uD5ImMVMAo

— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) July 11, 2025

Second new ball changed after 63 deliveries.
Replacement ball changed after 48 deliveries.
This really isn't a great advert for the Duke Cricket Ball.

— S A M 🏏⚽️🏈 (@sammy5456) July 11, 2025

Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah took three early wickets on Day 2 to bring India back into the match, but England have taken their total past 300.