ENG vs IND 2025: 'Very much like a previous captain' - Jonathan Trott takes sly dig at Virat Kohli while criticising Shubman Gill's demeanour

Former England cricketer Jonathan Trott has lambasted Indian captain Shubman Gill's behaviour towards Zak Crawley during the third Test at Lord's, calling it 'acting' and setting a bad tone. Shubman gave Crawley a mouthful in the dying minutes of Day 3 as he felt that the England opener was intentionally wasting time to deprive India of bowling an extra over. After being bowled out for 387, India managed to bowl only one over at the England openers.

With only six minutes left on the clock, the Indians were confident of bowling two overs before Stumps, but Crawley took over a minute to take guard after the umpires had called play. Then Crawley stopped Bumrah a couple of times in his run-up. Once because he wasn’t ready, and then when he wasn't happy with some movement behind the sight screen.

During the last over, Shubman used some choice words, urging Crawley to show some guts and face the music instead of wasting time. After Crawley got hit on his hand and asked for the physio to check on him, the Indian fielders swarmed towards the opener. They sarcastically began applauding, as if to suggest that he was making a mountain out of a molehill.

Trott wasn't too happy with how Gill conducted himself during the over.  He also took a subtle dig at Virat Kohli, who was known for not giving opponents an inch.

“A little bit of gamesmanship, but I think England, for me, we don’t know what went on when England were fielding, whether they were dishing it out. I don’t like the acting from Shubman Gill," Trott said while speaking on JioHotstar. 

“I just think as a captain, you set the tone. As I’ve said before, you know, pointing fingers and getting a little bit confrontational, very much like a previous captain, sort of getting in the face of the opposition. And I just don’t think that’s what it’s about. I think it sets a bad tone. And I’m up for being competitive and being tough on the field. I just think sometimes you’ve got to rise above it," Trott said.