India is currently touring England for the five-match Test series which is part of the World Test Championship and their first assignment in this cycle. The series is currently tied 1-1 as England won the first Test match at Headingley and India won the second Test at Edgbaston. The series being tantalisingly poised, the two sides clashed at the Lord's cricket ground seeking to get their noses ahead in the series. England won the toss and for the first time in the series opted to bat first. They finished day 1 on a solid 251/4, although in the day 2, an early burst with the new ball from Jasprit Bumrah caused them lose three quick wickets. Just when it was looking like India can wrap England up quickly, a controversy around changing the second new ball took place. Angry Shubman Gill Argues With Umpire As Ball Change Controversy Mars IND vs ENG 3rd Test 2025 (Watch Video).

What is the Ball Change Controversy During IND vs ENG 2nd Test 2025?

The IND vs ENG 3rd Test 2025 Day 1 finished after 83 overs of England innings. India bowled 80 overs and the second new ball became available when Root and Stokes were batting. On Day 2, with the same new ball Bumrah dismissed Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes and Mohammed Siraj was also creating chances from the other end. The second new ball was moving quite a bit and it was looking like India could wrap up the England innings under 300. That is when bowler Mohammed Siraj noticed that the second new ball, which was only ten overs old, has gone out of shape. The umpires checked it and in reality the ball was not going through the ring. That is when the umpires decided to change the ball which created the ball-change controversy. Team India captain Shubman Gill was not happy with the changed ball and Mohammed Siraj shared the same feeling.

Why Was Shubman Gill Not Happy?

Shubman Gill was unhappy because the changed ball that was given to them was not a ten-over old ball and rather it was a semi-new ball which was nearly 20 overs bowled. Both Gill and Siraj protested and argued angrily about it with the umpires. But the umpires made their choice from the box of the alternate balls available. Gill and Siraj knew that they would not get the same amount of purchase as the new ball was giving them earlier in the session. Gill was also angry that the second new ball had to be changed so early and the balls were going so soft and out of shape so early.  'Is it 10 Overs Old Ball? Seriously?' Mohammed Siraj Expresses Unhappiness Over Ball-Change Saga During IND vs ENG 3rd Test 2025 at Lord's Cricket Ground (Watch Video).

The Movement Reduced Significantly After Ball Was Changed

How Did It Impact India?

England lost three wickets in for just 11 runs and were down to 271/7 when India were looking menacing with the second new ball. After the ball was changed, the next wicket fell on 355 and both the batters Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse scored half-centuries, taking England's score to a much-more competitive 387.

Why the Balls Are Going Soft and Out of Shape?

In England, Test cricket is played with the Dukes ball. The batch of Dukes balls that is being used for the India vs England Test series has been going soft and out of shape too early and very frequently. It is one of the reasons runs were easy to score in the first two Tests which has been cited by Shubman Gill before. When Dukes owner Dilip Jajodia was asked about it, Jajodia indicated that it was modern bats which are causing the balls to out of shape and also said that it is maybe time ICC should make rules about introducing the second new ball earlier.

 

 

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 11, 2025 11:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).