Shubman Gill Critiques Dukes Ball and Flat Pitches, Calls for Bowler-Friendly Conditions

India's captain, Shubman Gill, expressed concerns about the declining quality of the Dukes ball and the trend of flat pitches in the ongoing Test series. Despite his impressive performance, scoring nearly 600 runs in four innings, Gill believes that pitches should offer some assistance to bowlers.

Gill highlighted that the Dukes ball becomes softer after 30 overs, making it challenging for bowlers. "It is very difficult for the bowlers. I think more than the wicket, maybe the ball is out of shape very quickly. It gets soft very quickly. I don't know what it is, whether it is wickets or whatever. It is difficult for the bowlers. It is very difficult to get a wicket in such conditions, when there is nothing there," he said.

Challenges with Flat Pitches

The Indian captain noted that flat pitches remove the essence of cricket by forcing teams to play defensively. "If you know that only the first 20 overs or something will happen, after that you are on the defensive all day, you are thinking all day about how to stop the runs. Then the essence of the game comes out of it," Gill remarked after India's win at Edgbaston.

Gill also commented on the nature of pitches in England with a touch of humour. "Yes, like we play in India, most of them are friendly. It feels good to come here and get good pitches for a while laughs," he said.

Expectations for Lord's Test

Looking ahead to the third Test at Lord’s starting July 10, Gill does not anticipate another flat pitch like those at Leeds or Edgbaston. "We will see what kind of wicket they are giving to the Lords. I don't think they will give such a flat wicket. This is my feeling. But we will go there and take a decision and we will see what kind of wicket it is, what is the best possible combination," he stated.

Gill confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah would return for the Lord’s Test after being rested at Edgbaston due to workload management concerns related to his injury history.

Gill emphasised that having some movement from the ball allows teams to strategise effectively and enjoy playing. "And as a team, when you know that it is difficult to get a wicket, when you know that it is difficult to get a wicket in such conditions, a lot of things are out of your control. There should be a little help for the bowlers. If the ball is doing something, then you can plan something in some way, and then it is fun to play," he explained.

With inputs from PTI