Rishabh Pant, the keeper-batter and vice captain of Team India, acknowledged that the players have been irritated by the Dukes ball’s frequent problems during the current Test series in England.
Regarding the quality of the Dukes balls used in the current series, both England and India have voiced their displeasure. The balls have started losing their shape or becoming softer far sooner than anticipated.
Rishabh Pant was asked about his thoughts on the issues resulting from the use of Dukes balls in the Test series during a press conference on Wednesday, July 9, before to the third England vs. India Test at Lord’s. He acknowledged:
“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.
Rishabh Pant
“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,” the 27-year-old went on to elaborate.
In a conversation with The Indian Express, maker Dilip Jagjodia defended himself by asserting that bats nowadays are far more potent.
Shubman Gill and Ben Stokes Criticize Dukes Ball Quality in Ongoing England-India Test Series
Prior to Pant, Indian captain Shubman Gill and England captain Ben Stokes had both expressed discontent with the quality of the Dukes balls used in the present Test series.
The world's No.1 Test bowler is back at the @HomeOfCricket, and mind you, he knows his stats really well 😀#TeamIndia #ENGvIND | @Jaspritbumrah93 pic.twitter.com/j7ToBp4bUW
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 9, 2025Gill made the following remarks during a news conference following the Edgbaston Test:
“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.”
Ben Stokes revealed during the pre-match press conference ahead of the Lord’s Test that there are issues with the Dukes balls being used. What he said:
“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.”
Ben Stokes
What happens when the Dukes ball goes soft or out of shape mid-Test? 🤔
Ben Stokes shares his take on how captains and umpires handle it — and why “if it fits through, we keep going” sums up the Test grind perfectly! 💬💪#ENGvIND 👉 3rd TEST starts THU, JULY 10, 2:30 PM |… pic.twitter.com/pURnHULPNn
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 9, 2025
India and England are level 1-1 in their five-match series. The tourists won the second Test in Birmingham by 336 runs, while the hosts won the first Test in Leeds by five wickets.
