The third day of the Lord’s Test between England and India was packed with action, aggression, and controversy. While India continued to build on their momentum with a strong batting display, tempers flared in the commentary box as legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar expressed his anger over England’s persistent use of the short-ball tactic against an injured Rishabh Pant. The aggressive approach from Ben Stokes and his seamers raised serious questions about the spirit of the game.
Sunil Gavaskar lambasts England for using bodyline tactic against Rishabh Pant
Gavaskar didn’t mince words as he slammed England’s short-ball barrage aimed at Pant, who was visibly struggling with a bruised left index finger. England captain Ben Stokes unleashed a barrage of bouncers early in the day, targeting Pant’s upper body with six fielders crowding the leg side. With over 50% of the deliveries bowled in the morning session being short-pitched, Gavaskar called out the home side’s approach as “unfair and dangerous.”
Speaking on air, the former Indian captain said, “Fifty-six percent of the balls today have been short. They have four men on the boundary waiting for a top edge. That’s not cricket, according to me. This is not in the spirit of the game. When the West Indies were doing this, the ICC stepped in. Why not now?”
He also urged ICC Men’s Cricket Committee chairman Sourav Ganguly to step in and address fielding restrictions. “There should not be more than six fielders on the leg side. This tactic goes beyond competitive cricket—it’s outright targeting,” he added.
Pant’s gritty effort despite injury
Despite the hostile bowling and pain in his left hand, Pant put up a brave fight. The wicketkeeper-batter had injured his finger while collecting deliveries behind the stumps on Day 1 and had to temporarily leave the field. Yet, showing remarkable resilience, he returned to bat on Day 3 and played a counter-attacking knock.
Pant shared a crucial 100-plus stand with KL Rahul that helped India dominate the session. He refused to shy away from the challenge, even as bouncers kept crashing into his gloves and body. His fighting innings ended at 74 off 112 balls, when a risky single resulted in a run-out just before lunch. With 416 runs in the series so far, Pant continues to be one of India’s most vital performers.
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