Team India’s wicket-keeper-batter and vice-captain, Rishabh Pant, has shared his views on the constant issues being faced with the Dukes ball in the ongoing five-match Test series in England, which has been irritating for the players as well. However, both India and England have expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of Dukes balls used in the ongoing series as well.

At a press conference on Wednesday, July 9, before the third England vs India Test at Lord’s, Pant said: “Definitely, I feel it’s a big problem because the ball is getting out of shape. At the same time, it’s not up to us. Visually when you see the ball, you can see the shape. But, the rules are such, unless and until someone changes it, it’s not up to the players.”

“In this series, the ball is losing shape too much. That has never happened so much. It’s definitely irritating for the players because every ball plays indifferent. When it becomes softer, sometimes it’s not doing too much. But as soon as they change the ball, it starts to do enough, so as a batter you’ve got to keep adjusting to it. But, at the same time, I feel it’s not good for cricket eventually,” he shared.

Before Rishabh Pant, Indian captain Shubman Gill and England captain Ben Stokes had also shared their dissatisfaction over the quality of Dukes balls being used in the ongoing Test series. as well.

Speaking at a press conference after the Edgbaston Test, Gill commented: “It is very difficult for the bowlers. I think more than the wicket, maybe the ball is out of shape very quickly. It gets soft very quickly. I don’t know what it is, whether it is wickets or whatever. It is difficult for the bowlers. It is very difficult to get a wicket in such conditions.”

“Whenever we have touring teams come here, there is an issue around the balls going soft, going out of shape. I don’t even think that the rings that we use are Dukes rings. Something that is not ideal but yeah, you have got to deal with it,” he concluded.