 "How much did the Day 3 spat between Gill and Crawley hurt India at Lord’s?")
India’s third Test at Lord’s ended in heartbreak as they fell just 22 runs short of chasing 193 against England. But apart from the thrilling cricket, there were moments of high-intensity clashes between players of both teams. One of the biggest talking points was the heated exchange between Indian and English players at the end of Day 3.
Day 3 drama at Lord’s
The incident happened during the final over of the day when England opener Zak Crawley seemed to waste time deliberately. England didn’t want to play more than one over in fading light, so Crawley and Ben Duckett took extra time at the crease. Crawley even called for medical attention after getting hit on his hand an over earlier, which annoyed the Indian team.
Indian captain Shubman Gill was heard sledging Crawley and the incident escalated. Jasprit Bumrah and other Indian players also joined in, clapping sarcastically when Crawley complained of the finger injury. The heated moment clearly showed the rising tension between the two sides, and it set up Day 4 nicely.
Tensions continue into Days 4 & 5
The penultimate day was no different as Indian bowlers kept attacking English batters. Mohammed Siraj gave Duckett a fiery send-off after dismissing him in the second innings. Ravindra Jadeja and Brydon Carse clashed in the middle after a mid-pitch collision on Day 5. Jofra Archer didn't hold back either after dismissing Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar in quick succession.
Gill later played down the incident. “When you’re giving it your all — mentally and physically — there will be moments when things get a bit heated from both sides. I think that’s what makes it more exciting and challenging. The next time we face each other, we know it won’t be easy. There can be moments of tension in the game of cricket, but you’re just trying to give your best,” he said after the match.
Did the drama affect India’s focus?
However, some believe the drama on Day 3 hurt India’s focus. Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar said the verbal fight affected the captain’s mindset going into the second innings. Gill was dismissed cheaply in the final session of Day 4, when India were already two down and needed him to see off the final few overs.
“There was no straightforward blunder from this young Indian team like we have seen in the past. Rishabh Pant’s run-out yes, but who is to know if there could have been another great delivery and gotten him out as well. I want to stress again on the drama that happened on Day 3. That got a little fired up and the captain wasn’t the same player in the second innings. So, that hurt India a little bit. Washington Sundar’s introduction was very late in the second innings and that may have cost India 30-40 runs,” Sanjay Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo.
While the players hugged after the match, showing that nothing was personal, the spat may have slightly shifted India’s focus. In the end, England held their nerve and won by 22 runs, taking a 2–1 lead in the five-match series. India will now look to regroup and bounce back in the fourth Test in Manchester starting 23 July.
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