NDC DESK
London, July 16, 2025 – Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has criticised captain Shubman Gill for his on-field aggression during India’s 22-run loss to England in the third Test at Lord’s, a result that leaves the tourists trailing 2–1 in the five-match series.
Kaif pointed to a fiery altercation between Gill and England opener Zak Crawley on Day 3 as a turning point that galvanized England. Gill had accused Crawley of time-wasting just before close of play, leading to a heated exchange. Kaif wrote on X:
“Shubman Gill’s fight with Zak Crawley charged England… But that incident fired up [Ben] Stokes and he bowled an inspiring spell… Gill will learn this the hard way.”  Kaif argued that while emotion can drive performance, it can also shift momentum—and in this case, England seized the initiative. He urged Gill to find a balance: aggressive yet in control.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan echoed this, observing that Gill looked uncharacteristically unsettled at the crease in the second innings, ultimately contributing just 16 and 6 in a tense chase of 193. Vaughan praised India’s fighting spirit but noted: “Shubman Gill did not look as technically tight or calm as usual…” 
Despite dominance from the Indian bowlers—who reduced England to 192—India failed to hold firm in reply, succumbing at 170 all out. Gill had earlier been in red-hot form in the series, registering centuries at Leeds and Headingley, but the pressure of Lord’s appeared to unsettle him.
As the series heads to Manchester for Test 4, India will be keen to recalibrate under Gill’s leadership—tempering passion with prudence on cricket’s grandest stage.
