Team India Responds to Last-Over Bust-Up After Shubman Gill’s Outburst at Zak Crawley: ‘There Were Six Minutes Left’

Day 3 of the Lord’s Test ended with unexpected fireworks, not from the bat or ball, but from a heated verbal clash between India’s Shubman Gill and England opener Zak Crawley. After India leveled England’s first-innings total of 387 — thanks largely to KL Rahul’s composed 177-ball century — the final minutes of play were marked by on-field theatrics and rising tempers.

With just six minutes remaining, India rushed back to the field, eager to squeeze in two overs before stumps. Jasprit Bumrah took the new ball, and Crawley faced up to him. But the tension erupted when Crawley pulled away from the crease just before the third delivery, citing a distraction from the sightscreen. This delay drew a furious reaction from Gill, who was caught shouting, “Grow some f**ing balls!”*

The situation escalated further two balls later when Crawley defended a delivery and immediately took off his gloves, signaling for the physio while shaking his hand in apparent discomfort. The timing of the stoppage didn’t sit well with the Indian players, particularly Gill, who charged toward Crawley in another tense exchange before the umpires intervened.

Team India Addresses the Incident

At the post-day press conference, KL Rahul addressed the dramatic final moments. “There were six minutes left. It’s a no-brainer — any team would try to bowl two overs in that time. But yeah, it got a bit theatrical at the end,” he said, acknowledging the heightened emotions.

Rahul noted that the team was eager to grab a wicket before stumps, hoping to rattle England early in their second innings. “We know how difficult it is for a batter to walk in and face even two overs after being in the field all day,” he explained. “Getting a wicket at that point would’ve been ideal.”

Despite the confrontation, Rahul offered some empathy for Crawley’s situation. “Being an opener myself, I understand what was going on,” he said. “It’s part of the game now. Every opening batter will understand that last five minutes can be very tricky — but everyone on the field knew what was happening.”

Tail Woes Continue, But India Levels the Score

Earlier in the day, Rahul’s century ensured India matched England’s total of 387, but once again, the lower order failed to contribute meaningfully — an issue that cost them dearly in the previous Test at Leeds. Still, leveling the scores kept the match finely poised heading into Day 4, with India fired up and looking to seize momentum.

As the dust settles on a fiery end to Day 3, all eyes will now turn to whether India’s energy can be converted into early breakthroughs when play resumes.