Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali has spoken in support of India captain Shubman Gill, who faced criticism for his aggressive on-field behavior during the third Test at Lord’s. Gill’s fiery exchange with England’s Zak Crawley at the end of Day 3 became a major talking point, especially after India lost the match by 22 runs.
Gill was visibly frustrated when Crawley delayed play by calling for the physio after being hit on the glove, just as India were pushing for one more over before stumps. The Indian skipper’s reaction, captured on the stump mic, drew attention and divided opinions. Many compared his aggression to that of Virat Kohli in past tours of England.
Moeen Ali, however, saw it differently. Speaking at the Global Power League, he said Gill was simply trying to fight hard for his team. “It’s fine. He was just trying to be competitive, similar to how Kohli used to be. But what he’s done is bring out the best of England—the fight, the beast they can be. That’s what we saw at Lord’s,” Moeen explained.
He added that the aggression added spice to the series and questioned why Gill was being targeted for it. “It’s great for the series. I don’t know why he gets criticised,” Moeen said during a media interaction streamed on FanCode.
Moeen Ali Comments on Kuldeep Yadav’s Exclusion
Moeen also shared his thoughts on India’s team selection, particularly the absence of spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the first three Tests. Many fans and experts have questioned why Kuldeep has not been picked, especially given England’s struggles against wrist-spin.
India has chosen to go with Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja as their spin options. While Sundar claimed a four-wicket haul in the second innings at Lord’s and also made useful runs at Edgbaston, Jadeja has been India’s most consistent all-rounder in the series.
Moeen acknowledged Kuldeep’s talent but said the current balance made it hard to fit him in. “I would like to see Kuldeep in the team, but I don’t know who he replaces. Washi has bowled well, and Jadeja is doing everything. It’s a tough call,” Moeen added.
As the series heads into its final two Tests with England leading 2-1, the discussions around India’s team selection and Gill’s leadership style continue to dominate the headlines.
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