There is a lot of confrontation between India and England players because they don't play in the IPL: Sunil Gavaskar

Former Indian captain and commentator Sunil Gavaskar has stated that there have been a lot of confrontations between Indian and English players, as the players from the England side don’t frequently play the Indian Premier League.

Notably, Shubman Gill, the Indian Test captain, was seen hurling abuses at the England opening batter Zak Crawley for wasting a lot of time in the dying moments of the third day’s play of the ongoing Lord’s Test.

Gavaskar, who was commentating at the end of the day’s play, stated that players like Joe Root and Ben Stokes haven’t taken part in the IPL season of late, which could be the reason behind them confronting the Indian players.

"...England wanting to make it the last over. The Indians thought it was maybe a bit of gamesmanship. Maybe it was," Sunil Gavaskar said on air after the third day’s play.

"There is a reason why this happened. That's because not a lot of England players are competing in the IPL. That's my thinking. From this England team, Joe Root did not play, Ben Stokes did not play,” he added.

What has happened with other teams is that a lot of their players are in the IPL. They have mixed with the Indian players, travelled with them. They shared changing room. This is what I keep saying, before the IPL, there was lot of animosity, bordering on being brutal, between some players. That intensity is still there, like Archer bowling to Yashasvi. There is a lot of confrontation between India and England players because they don't play in the IPL,” he concluded.

At stumps on Day 3, England are leading by two runs with only one over possible by the Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.

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