ENG vs IND: Headingley crowd boos India over repeated ball change plea on Day 5
The Headingley crowd turned against the Indian team during the first session of Day 5 in the ongoing Test between England and India, as repeated requests from Shubman Gill and Shardul Thakur to change the ball were rejected by the umpires. The home fans responded with loud boos, adding to the pressure on the visitors who were already struggling to defend their 371-run target.advertisementAfter a strong Day 4 that saw KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant score centuries and build a 195-run partnership, India were looking to carry that momentum into the final day. However, the start was far from ideal. England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett stitched together a century stand, finding runs with ease against an increasingly ineffective Indian attack.ENG vs IND, 1st Test Day 5: Updates
As the partnership grew, Indian skipper Shubman Gill approached on-field umpire Chris Gaffaney, pointing out that the stitches on the Dukes ball had begun to loosen and requesting a change. Gaffaney inspected the ball but ruled that it was still within acceptable condition. The decision drew the first wave of boos from the Leeds crowd, who made their displeasure heard.A few overs later, Shardul Thakur echoed the appeal, citing the same issue. Once again, the umpires denied the request, and the crowd responded with even louder jeers. The reactions grew stronger with every Indian consultation with the officials, turning the session into a tense one both on and off the field.advertisementIndia's struggles with the ball were evident. Jasprit Bumrah couldn't find his rhythm, and Crawley—who had managed just 4 runs in the first innings—looked far more settled this time around. Duckett continued from where he left off and kept the scoreboard ticking.Eventually, the ball was replaced in the 27th over, just minutes before lunch. But by then, England had built a solid foundation, and the pressure was mounting on India's bowlers.Despite their strong batting performance on Day 4, India's inability to finish the innings well meant they set a total that England could still realistically chase on a flat surface.- Ends
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