Duke Ball Controversy: Why Players Are Upset In England?

t one point, a visibly agitated Shubman Gill was seen arguing with the umpires, unhappy with their repeated refusal to swap out the ball.

Most requests were denied, which visibly frustrated the Indian players.

Source : @Oreotiger1 / X

The second day of the Lord’s Test was nothing short of eventful. While Joe Root notched up his 37th Test century and Jasprit Bumrah delivered a stellar five-wicket haul, the spotlight also shifted to a simmering controversy involving the Dukes ball—culminating in a tense moment between India captain Shubman Gill and the on-field umpires.

Throughout the first two days, the Indian team consistently expressed dissatisfaction with the condition of the ball. Several appeals were made to replace it, but the umpires, using the standard ball gauge, allowed only a few changes.

Shubman Gill expresses frustration 

Most requests were denied, which visibly frustrated the Indian players. At one point, a visibly agitated Shubman Gill was seen arguing with the umpires, unhappy with their repeated refusal to swap out the ball.

The ball issue has been a recurring theme this series, with concerns raised about its inconsistent shape and tendency to soften quickly. The situation gained further traction when Mohammad Siraj was caught on the stump mic telling the umpire that the ball India had been handed was already "10 overs old."

Stuart Broad's take on ball controversy 

Adding weight to the concerns, former England pacer Stuart Broad also spoke out.

“A cricket ball should be like a great wicketkeeper—you hardly notice it. But here we are talking about the ball in every innings. That’s not right,” Broad said. “There’s clearly a problem with the Dukes ball. It should last 80 overs, not wear out in just 10.”

India’s frustration was amplified during Day 2. After Bumrah’s fiery burst of 3 wickets in 14 balls, the bowlers went wicketless for the rest of the session—raising further questions about the ball’s impact on performance.

As debate continues to grow over the quality of the Dukes ball used in this series, the issue has become more than just an on-field concern—it’s now a talking point across the cricketing world, calling for immediate attention from the manufacturers and officials.