'Does not make sense' - Former wicket-keeper slams Jaiswal and Gill for time-wasting on Day 3 of ENG vs IND 2025 5th Test

Former India wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik criticized Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal for deliberately wasting time ahead of the lunch break on Day 3 of the fifth Test between India and England at The Oval. As the session neared its end, the Indian batters seemingly looked to stretch time and avoid facing another over. Gill, who was on strike in the 44th over, deliberately slowed things down, while Jaiswal, at the non-striker's end, acted as if he was dealing with a hamstring issue.

The visitors’ tactics to delay play didn’t go unnoticed. Just before the last ball of the over, Jaiswal pointed to his hamstring and hobbled slightly, suggesting cramp. However, he walked off without any visible discomfort once the session ended. This appeared to frustrate the England players, leading to verbal exchanges and finger-pointing between the two sides as they left the field.

Dinesh Karthik, speaking on Sky Sports Cricket, expressed disappointment with the move.
"If the bowler is at the top of his mark, I think you should be ready as a batter. Jadeja is an exception. But if a fast bowler is ready, then you need to be ready. Especially if you are at the non-strikers' end, delaying it does not make sense," he remarked.

Karthik applauds Jaiswal’s batting heroics in challenging conditions

Despite his disapproval of the time-wasting, Karthik reserved high praise for Jaiswal’s batting. The opener struck a brilliant 118 off 164 balls on Day 3, hitting 14 fours and two sixes. It was his second century of the series, capping off an impressive maiden tour of England. Karthik appreciated Jaiswal’s temperament and application, especially on a difficult Oval pitch.

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"A very good series (for Jaiswal). Young player, coming to England for the first time, it's a massive challenge. For him, in all fairness, pitches have been good to bat on. But this pitch at The Oval was not easy. He put his mind in and batted nicely. But overall, a very successful series. For your first time in England, a series you will definitely take as an opener," Karthik noted. Jaiswal finished the series with 411 runs in 10 innings at an average of 41.10, including two hundreds and two fifties.