'Out of character...'- Former Australia player backs Shubman Gill after Lord's outburst in ENG vs IND 3rd Test

Since the Indian captain, Shubman Gill’s outburst at Lord’s at the two England openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, during the third Test of the five-match series between England and India, various comments have been made at the younger batter. Gill, who enjoyed his first Test victory as captain of the Blue Brigade at Edgbaston, failed in the third fixture in London.

But the former Australia captain, Ricky Ponting, who also played the game with fire, has backed the Punjab-born with a piece of advice during the recent ICC review. The ICC Hall of Famer understood why the posturing of the Indian captain came as a surprise to many fans and former players.

‘That was a little out of character from what I've known from Shubman in the past. I am sure everyone who was there watching it, and I know you would know him quite well, that's not what he's generally like. That's the captain standing up for his team, that's a captain wanting to show that it's his team now and this is the way that we're going to play the game.” Ponting expressed during the recent ICC review.

Ricky Ponting supports Shubman Gill’s Lord’s outburst before ENG vs IND 4th Test in Manchester

Ponting has played the five-day format in England across four different tours. Twice during those trips, he was the leader of the Australian side in 2005 and 2009, and felt that the pressure of the high-profile tour could get to an individual as the leader.

‘The UK can be a hard place to play. The crowds, as much as they love their game, can be as hostile a place to play as anywhere in the world. The media there, when you're in a big series, when it's an Ashes series or when it's England and India, the media always feel like they're right on top of your back as well.’ The veteran noted.

Despite the visitors’ 22-run defeat at Lord’s, Ponting suggests that Gill should make his presence felt on the players, similar to what Virat Kohli used to do. With the series standing at 2-1 in favor of the home side, the focus moves to the fourth fixture at Old Trafford in Manchester, starting on July 23.