WATCH: Relive fight between Indian captain and England openers during closing over of ENG vs IND 3rd Test

Day 3 of the third Test between India and England on Saturday, July 12. At the end of the day, when the match was nearing its conclusion, English openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley seemed to intentionally delay their entry onto the field, taking two extra minutes to walk from the dressing room to the crease. Their casual approach, particularly under overcast skies favorable for bowlers, caused raised eyebrows among commentators and Indian players.

The drama intensified during the solitary over of England's second innings, bowled by Jasprit Bumrah. Zak Crawley disrupted the momentum several times—pulling out during delivery and calling for the physio following a blow on his finger. These strategies clearly frustrated Indian captain Shubman Gill, who was seen sledging the openers and exchanging heated words with Crawley. Former England captain Nasser Hussain also criticized the delay on-air, saying that England was clearly trying to face only one over before stumps.

This time-wasting strategy caused a fiery confrontation between Gill and the English openers. The Indian captain not only used abusive language but also made aggressive gestures toward Crawley while both teams left the field. With England finishing the day on 2/0 and having only a two-run lead after both teams had scored 387 runs in their first innings, tensions ran high with the series hanging in the balance.

Final-Over Drama: England’s Delay Sparks Heated Exchange with India

The on-field tension overshadowed what was a gripping day of Test cricket. India’s innings was highlighted by KL Rahul’s composed century, supported by Ravindra Jadeja’s 72 and Rishabh Pant’s explosive 74. Pant’s innings ended in a dramatic fashion—run out by a direct hit from Ben Stokes, which gave England some late momentum.

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England’s decision to seem to slow the game in fading light didn’t sit well with the Indian team, who were keen to exploit the conditions with Bumrah’s pace and swing. As Crawley and Duckett walked off under a storm of words from Gill, fans witnessed yet another dramatic chapter in what has been a fiercely contested Test series.