Former cricketer Mohammad Kaif has taken aim at Shubman Gill, criticising the young Indian skipper’s on-field spat with Zak Crawley, which he believes served as fuel for England’s comeback in the third Test at Lord’s.
Shubman Gill's fight with Zak Crawley charged England. After Edgbaston, there were questions about their batting, bowling and captaincy. But that incident fired up Stokes and he bowled an inspiring spells. It is wise to stick to the attitude that works for you. Gill will learn…
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) July 15, 2025
The verbal altercation occurred in the final moments of Day 3, after India matched England’s first-innings total. As Gill tried to push for one more over before stumps, Crawley repeatedly delayed play—stepping away from the crease and later calling for the physio after being struck on the glove. The tension peaked when Gill reportedly used explicit language towards the England opener, visibly frustrating both him and pacer Jasprit Bumrah.
While India did well to bowl England out for 192 in their second innings, the final day saw Ben Stokes’ side return with renewed aggression, ultimately bundling India out 22 runs short of the 193-run target.
Mohammad Kaif, commenting on the incident, said the outburst may have unintentionally sparked England’s fightback.
“Shubman Gill’s fight with Zak Crawley charged England. After Edgbaston, there were questions about their batting, bowling and captaincy. But that incident fired up Stokes, and he bowled inspiring spells. It is wise to stick to the attitude that works for you. Gill will learn this the hard way,” Kaif wrote on X.
India’s Close Finish at Lord’s
India’s tailenders nearly salvaged the match. Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah added a crucial 35 runs across 22 overs for the ninth wicket, followed by a resilient 23-run partnership between Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj. The team was just 5.1 overs away from forcing England to use the second new ball when Siraj dragged one onto his stumps, ending India’s chase at 170.
After the loss, Gill reflected on the tense finish:
“When Bumrah Bhai and Jaddu Bhai were batting, you could see the pressure building on them (England) every five or six runs. That’s all it was—just small partnerships adding up.”
With the five-match series now at 2-1 in England’s favour, India will need to regroup both tactically and mentally before the fourth Test.