'Don't think India can take 90 seconds': DK gives befitting reply to Hussain after Gill's remark is found laughable

The intense exchange between India’s Shubman Gill and England’s Zak Crawley during the Lord’s Test’s Day 3 continues to spark debate among cricket experts. The incident remains a hot topic of discussion and became a subject of amicable debate between former England captain Nasser Hussain and ex-India batter Dinesh Karthik.

The base of the conversation was the recent statement by Gill, who did not mince words when he questioned the hosts’ “spirit of the game” while headlining the episode in the pre-Manchester Test presser.

“Yes, a lot of people have been talking about it, so let me just clear the air, once and for all. The English batsmen on that day had seven minutes of play left; they were 90 seconds late to come to the crease — not 10, not 20 — 90 seconds late,” Gill had said in the press conference.

Hussain admitted that he could not help but “laugh” at the statement made by Gill. According to the ex-England captain, India would not have done anything different if they were in England’s place. Upon listening to Hussain, DK came up with a fitting reply, stating that India would never get the opportunity to delay the game for 90 seconds.

Here’s how the exchange went:

Nasser Hussain:  The umpires were concerned about the light, I think, in the last over. I haven’t seen any light metres out there.

Dinesh Karthik:  I think that’s quite clever, that’s fine, to just go and put that small little seed in the umpire’s mind. Is it okay to, like, especially with the new ball around the corner, and we’ve seen a couple of collapses for India as well. And that’s cheeky. Not a bad idea.

Nasser Hussain: That’s what made me laugh about Shubman Gill’s press conference, really, about England not being in the spirit of the game by delaying things, and England did delay it. Day three, that one over, it was ridiculous, but every side does it, and India will do it tonight. Why would they want extra overs of Jofra Archer under the lights? Who would?

Dinesh Karthik:  Difference being, I don’t think India can take 90 seconds not wanting to bat, or rather not wanting to come down to bat. I think that’s the problem that Shubman Gill said he had. It was just the fact that they came late to take the strike, that he had a problem with.

Thrilling start to the fourth Test

While the 3rd Test left a lot to be discussed, the series has moved to the 4th Test. Day 1 of the Manchester Test saw India batting first and finishing at 264/4 at Stumps. Besides the wickets, India suffered a huge injury setback in the form of Rishabh Pant. Pant was well-set at 37* when Chris Woakes’ deadly yorker struck his right foot. The batter immediately felt the discomfort and was taken off the field.

Initial scans have showcased that Pant has sustained a foot fracture, as per reports. Reportedly, Pant has been advised to rest for at least 6 weeks and hence will miss the 5th and final Test of the series, to be held at the Oval.