The poor quality of the Dukes ball once again created a stir during Day 2 of the third India vs England Test on Friday. India captain Shubman Gill and pacer Mohammed Siraj were visibly frustrated. They complained to the umpire about the bad condition of the ball, which had been used for just 10 overs.

India had taken the second new ball at the 80-over mark on Thursday. But by Friday, the team felt the ball had already gone out of shape. The umpires then conducted a hoop test to check the ball’s size—and it failed. So, they replaced it.

Gill and Siraj React Strongly

Even after the replacement, the Indian players weren’t satisfied. Shubman Gill began a heated discussion with the umpire over the new ball’s shape. On the stump mic, Siraj was heard saying, “This is 10-overs old ball? Seriously?”

Gill seemed angry and even snatched the ball from the umpire’s hands during the argument. The umpire, however, rejected his concerns and asked the game to move on.

From the commentary box, Sunil Gavaskar backed India’s frustration. He said, “Even from here you can see that is not a 10 over old ball, that is like a 20 over old ball.”

Players Slam Ball Quality Throughout Series

This isn’t the first time the Dukes ball has come under fire in this series. Before the third Test, India’s vice-captain Rishabh Pant openly criticised the ball’s poor quality. He said the red Dukes ball was losing shape far too often and was not fit for top-level cricket.

Pant said, “The gauge (to measure the balls) should be the same (whether it’s Dukes or Kookaburra). But it would be better if it was smaller (laughs). The balls are giving so much trouble. Definitely, I feel it's a big problem. Because the ball is getting out of shape.”

He added that the constant change in the ball’s condition was affecting the game. “What I've seen, the ball is getting de-shaped too much. That has never happened like this to me. It's definitely irritating for the players because every ball plays differently because when it becomes softer, sometimes it's not doing too much. But as soon as it changes the ball, it's starting to do enough.”

Ball Behavior Affects Fair Contest

Pant also pointed out that the ball loses its shine and hardness quickly, making it hard for bowlers to extract movement. Once the ball gets soft, it becomes easier for batters and removes the balance between bat and ball.

He said, “As a batsman, you've got to keep on adjusting to it. But at the same time, I feel it's not good for cricket anyway.”

Frequent Complaints Raise Bigger Questions

Throughout the series, both Indian and English players have repeatedly approached umpires to change the ball. The Dukes ball, known for keeping its shape in the past, has failed to live up to its reputation this time. As the issue continues, questions are growing over quality control and how it’s affecting the integrity of the match.