How Ben Stokes and the England Team Reacted to Shubman Gill’s Sledging?

Things took a fiery turn at the end of Day 3 when India’s captain Shubman Gill got into a heated exchange with England’s openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. The sledging added spice to the contest and seemed to charge up the English side. What followed was a strong fightback from England as they turned the match around and secured a win, taking a 2-1 lead in the series. After the match, Ben Stokes shared his thoughts on the intense sledging and how it fired up his team.

Did Washington Sundar’s Comment Fire Up the England Team?

Just before Day 5 of the third Test at Lord’s, Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar made a bold prediction that didn’t go down well, either with the outcome of the match or with the England team. Speaking to the media, Sundar confidently stated that India would win the game in the first session of the final day. At the time, India needed just 193 runs to win with plenty of batting left, so the statement seemed to reflect the team’s belief. However, that confidence quickly turned into pressure as things dramatically unravelled for India. England, trailing in momentum at the end of Day 4, found unexpected motivation in Sundar’s remarks.

WHAT A CATCH BY ARCHER, INCREDIBLE…!!! 🫡 pic.twitter.com/PulCedBYa3

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 14, 2025

According to England’s former captain Jos Buttler, once Sundar’s comments reached their dressing room, it changed the tone of their preparation. The players didn’t need long team talks or inspirational speeches, as the idea that an opponent had publicly claimed victory before it happened was enough to push them harder. Head coach Brendon McCullum, usually calm and laid-back during matches, was seen animated on the balcony when Sundar came out to bat. Buttler later shared that McCullum asked the players to lift their energy, especially for the batter who had made headlines the previous night. He said:

Has he actually said that? Washington Sundar’s interview where he says about, you know, when India win tomorrow, when we go 2-1 up. And I thought, I wonder if he’s just sort of, you know, got his words out wrong, you know, hopefully we’ll win. But it was the proper, you know, incredible confidence. Yeah, we’re going to win. And it’s always one of those moments where you’re like, you don’t miss a thing, do you, in this day and age? Someone will have heard about that in the dressing room. It’s almost like instead of anyone having to say anything this morning for England you could have just played that interview and that would have got people so fired up.

It was clear that England had taken the comment personally, and the focus shifted toward ensuring Sundar wouldn’t back up his words with performance. Under that spotlight, Washington Sundar came to bat in a tense situation. India had already lost six wickets for just 82 runs in their second innings, with the target still some distance away. The team needed someone to stand with Ravindra Jadeja, who was playing a determined knock. But Sundar couldn’t handle the pressure. He was dismissed for a four-ball duck by Jofra Archer, a dismissal that summed up how quickly India’s plans had fallen apart. He further added:

There’s a little clip of when Washington came out to bat and McCullum over the balcony sort of you know telling everyone to raise it, it’s the guy who’s been chirping. You set yourself up, don’t you? It’s horrible. But you’re like, no, everyone’s all over me. I could have just come out here and tried to, you know, have a good game and try my best. But now everyone knows that what I’ve said in the media last night, and this is going to be, everyone’s after me. Even McCullum, who’s possibly the only time he didn’t have his feet up. He’s leant forward to say, come on. Let’s ramp it up for this guy.

Despite Jadeja’s valiant effort, remaining unbeaten on 61 off 181 balls, he found no lasting support from the lower order. Jasprit Bumrah managed 5 off 54 balls, and Mohammed Siraj added just 4 from 30 deliveries. The collapse was complete, and India fell short by 22 runs, handing England a dramatic and morale-boosting win. What once seemed like an easy chase had turned into a nightmarish defeat. In the aftermath, Sundar was criticised for speaking too soon, with many calling his comment premature and overconfident. While athletes are expected to back themselves, the timing and tone of his statement ended up giving the opposition a perfect reason to rally.

How Ben Stokes Reacted to Shubman Gill’s Sledge at England’s Openers?

The things that riled up the England team during the third Test at Lord’s were not just the on-field events, but also the aggressive attitude shown by a few Indian players, especially Shubman Gill. What was shaping up to be a closely fought Test quickly turned heated when tempers flared between Gill and England opener Zak Crawley on Day 3. It all started in the final few overs of the day, just as England began their second innings. With fading light and limited time left in the day, Gill, fielding at second slip, was eager for the Indian bowlers to squeeze in two overs before Stumps.

Always annoying when you can't get another over in before close 🙄 pic.twitter.com/3Goknoe2n5

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 12, 2025

But Crawley, opening the innings, seemed to be deliberately slowing things down. He took a quick double on the second ball and then stepped away from the crease before the third delivery, complaining about the sight screen. The interruptions didn’t sit well with the Indian side. Shubman Gill, frustrated by Crawley’s delays, lost his cool and shouted a curse from the slip cordon. His words were picked up by the stump mic, and even Jasprit Bumrah, who was bowling at the time, appeared visibly irritated. The tension increased when Crawley was hit on the glove and immediately called for the physio, drawing sarcastic claps from the Indian players. On this, Ben Stokes said:

When you’re watching your two opening batters go out there for an over, and you’re seeing 11 guys all come at [them], that’s going to bring out another side. I don’t think there’s anyone in the Indian dressing room or anyone in the English dressing room that’s going to bed, going to cry themselves to sleep over what was said or done out there. Sometimes it gets a little bit over-egged from an outsider’s point of view. I don’t think it overstepped the line from the Indian team or from our team. It adds to the theatre.

Gill, however, took it a step further and walked up to Crawley, gesturing towards the dressing room mockingly. Crawley didn’t stay quiet either, and the exchange soon turned into a face-off, with Ben Duckett having to intervene to calm things down. This aggressive behaviour sparked a strong response from the England camp. England captain Ben Stokes, who had kept silent during the match, spoke about the incident after the win. He noted that when his two opening batters were surrounded by all eleven opposition players with visible hostility, it triggered a new level of fight in his team. It became clear that the Indians’ aggressive approach had given England even more motivation. He further added:

At the end of the day, there’s a lot of admiration between two teams. Both the teams try their best to be able to win a match and perform. There can be moments where there would be some kind of heat. You’re in the moment. That’s what makes it more exciting.

Drama last night. Expectation this morning.

The hunt for early wickets is on! 🔍

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 14, 2025

Interestingly, Stokes also showed good sportsmanship after England secured the win. He consoled pacer Mohammed Siraj, who had been the last man out, and warmly hugged Ravindra Jadeja, who had fought hard with a gritty unbeaten fifty. Jofra Archer, one of England’s key pacers, later revealed that the team consciously changed their approach on Day 4. He admitted that they felt they had been “too nice” in earlier games and decided to be more assertive and intense. That change in mindset, fuelled by the sledging incident, helped England raise their energy and close out a match that could have gone either way.

How Ben Stokes Felt After Securing a Dramatic Win?

Just after England sealed a thrilling 22-run win in the third Test at Lord’s, Ben Stokes opened up about how much the victory meant to him, both as a captain and as a cricketer. It was a complete performance from Stokes, who was rightly named Player of the Match. He scored 44 and 33 with the bat, picked up five wickets across the two innings, and pulled off a crucial run-out to dismiss Rishabh Pant, a moment that shifted the match firmly in England’s favour.

Test Cricket.
Wow.
😍 pic.twitter.com/XGDWM1xR2H

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 14, 2025

Speaking after the game, Stokes revealed that choosing Jofra Archer to bowl on the final morning was inspired in part by a memory from six years ago, as England’s World Cup win on July 14, 2019. Archer had been a key player that day, and Stokes had a gut feeling he’d make an impact again. His instincts proved right. Archer’s pace and presence lifted the crowd and rattled the Indian batting lineup at a key stage. Stokes admitted the match pushed him physically and mentally. He said:

Yeah, part of the reason I went with Jof this morning, six years ago now to the day. He played a major role and I had a feeling he’d do something special and crack the game open. A bit of discussion, Brydon had an amazing spell, but I had a gut feeling that Jof’s going to do something in his first game back. Every time he’s announced on the tannoy, the ground erupts and when the speeds go up on the screen, the feeling changes.

He described how tired he was the previous day, but said the situation didn’t allow him to hold back. As an all-rounder, he takes pride in being involved in every aspect of the game and feels it was his duty to step up. While he wanted more runs from himself, his bowling made the biggest difference. The run-out of Pant was one of his highlights. He further added:

I’ve taken myself to some pretty dark places, but if bowling your country to a Test match win doesn’t get you excited, I don’t know what does. Bashir, it was written in the stars to take that last wicket. An absolute warrior. With what was on the line… I was cooked yesterday, but the game was on the line, nothing was stopping me. I’m an allrounder, I get four opportunities to influence the game, and if one thing doesn’t click… I’d like to score more runs, but you don’t have a chance to worry about anything.

"I just had a feeling Jofra was going to be the man to blast the game open." 🙌

Signing autographs and reminiscing on an epic win ❤️

Click below for the full chat! 👇

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 14, 2025

Positioned at extra cover, Stokes spotted a hesitation from Pant and instinctively threw the stumps down. That moment, he said, felt special the instant the ball left his hand. Reflecting on the intense battle between two strong teams, Stokes said he was proud of the fight shown by England and was now just looking forward to resting for a few days after an exhausting but memorable Test.