"Don't want to get my match fees deducted": Jasprit Bumrah keeps away from Dukes row

The Dukes has triggered a significant debate as the third India vs England Test unfolds at Lord's. The cherry used in the series has shown a worrying tendency to lose its shape too early in the game. On Day 2 of the Lord's Test, the Dukes required replacement after just a little over 10 overs on the flat deck at the home of cricket. The cricketing fraternity has come down hard on the quality of the ball, which is seemingly disrupting the rhythm of the game. The Indian side, put in to bowl first, even engaged in an animated exchange with the umpire on Day 2, as Shubman Gill raised concerns about the condition of the ball. However, Jasprit Bumrah has refrained from commenting on the issue.

Jasprit Bumrah refuses to comment on the quality of Dukes at play in the India vs England series

The Indian pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah earned a spot on the Lord’s Honours Board with a five-wicket haul on Day 2 of the third India vs England Test. After delivering yet another spell of brilliance, Bumrah steered clear of the ongoing debate surrounding the Dukes ball. Speaking to the media after stumps, Bumrah quipped that he’d rather not risk a fine, and therefore would avoid making any statements that might be seen as controversial.

“The ball changes, I don't really control that. Obviously, I don't want to lose out on money because I work very hard and play a lot of overs. So, I don't want to say any controversial statements and get my match fees deducted,” Bumrah said. “But we were bowling with the ball that we were given. And that's how it is. We can't change it. We can't fight it. Sometimes it goes your way. Sometimes you get a bad ball. That's how it is,” he added. 

Bumrah was at his lethal best with the second new ball early on Day 2, removing Ben Stokes, Joe Root, and Chris Woakes in a blistering spell that lasted just 14 deliveries. But the effectiveness of the ball was short-lived. Within 63 balls, it had lost its shape and was replaced. The substitute ball, however, offered far less movement, and India failed to pick up another wicket for the remainder of the session.

Frustratingly, even the replacement ball didn’t last long, it failed the ring test just 48 deliveries later and had to be changed once again. Reflecting on the situation, Bumrah maintained that there's little value in complaining and said the best approach is to stay focused and carry on. When the replacement ball was introduced, India captain Shubman Gill appeared visibly upset, engaging in a heated exchange with the on-field officials. Mohammed Siraj also voiced his dissatisfaction, caught on the stump mic asking if it was even a new ball.