Shubman Gill is not someone who usually gets angry on the field. But Day 3 of the Lord’s Test between India and England brought out a side of him that fans don’t see often.
Towards the end of play, Gill swore at England opener Zak Crawley and it became the biggest talking point of the day.
It all started when England came out to bat in the final session after bowling India out for 387, the same score they had made in their first innings.
With just a few overs left in the day, Crawley and Ben Duckett had only one job: survive without losing a wicket.
But Crawley kept taking his time between deliveries, repeatedly pointing at the sight screen and stopping play.
The delays started irritating the Indian team. Fielders murmured, Bumrah looked visibly frustrated, and then came the moment.
Shubman Gill, standing at second slip, couldn’t hold back anymore. He shouted, “Grow some fking balls, Zak!”* and the stump mic caught it loud and clear.
That single line went viral within minutes. Fans were shocked to see this aggressive side of Gill, someone known more for his calmness than confrontation.
But many fans didn’t stop there they immediately drew comparisons to Virat Kohli.
The outburst reminded people of the energy Kohli used to bring. Whether it was sledging, confrontations, or firing up the crowd, Virat never held back.
“Gill did what Virat used to do every other session,” said one fan on Twitter.
Another wrote, “This aggression used to be normal when Kohli was around. He gave it back. We miss that fire.”
Some fans even started questioning why Kohli retired early from Tests. “He still had it in him. These situations were tailor-made for Kohli. He wouldn’t have let Crawley waste time like that,” one post read.
Back to the match right after the verbal exchange, Bumrah delivered a nasty bouncer that hit Crawley on the gloves.
Crawley immediately called for the physio, but instead of sympathy, he was met with sarcastic slow claps from the Indian fielders.
Gill even gestured towards the pavilion, almost as if daring Crawley to walk off. Duckett had to step in to calm things down.
The belief among fans and experts was that Crawley was deliberately dragging the over so India wouldn’t get another one before stumps.
That’s what really triggered the reaction it wasn’t about one delivery, it was about momentum, control, and built-up frustration.
Earlier in the day, KL Rahul scored a brilliant century to help India level with England’s first innings score of 387. Pant and Jadeja also chipped in with useful contributions, but the tail didn’t add much after Jadeja’s dismissal.
At stumps, England are 2/0. The match is hanging in balance and Day 4 could be the turning point. And after what happened between Gill and Crawley, things are bound to stay heated.
It’s no longer just bat and ball it’s mind games now. And in moments like these, fans can’t help but say: “Wish Kohli was still out there.”
