Watch: Ben Duckett Takes Brutal Dig at Shubman Gill During Lord’s Test: '600 Runs and He is Done for the Series'

Day 4 began with Mohammed Siraj giving a fierce send-off to Ben Duckett, after dismissing him for just 12 runs. The home side’s subsequent batting collapse resulted in a 193-run target for the visitors. India’s dominant bowling effort in the second innings was guided by a four-wicket haul by Washington Sundar, as the Men in Blue made became the first team to record seven bowled dismissals in a Test innings. 

Responding to the previous banter and aggression, the home side struck back forcefully during India’s fourth-innings chase. India started the chase entirely on the wrong foot, collapsing rapidly from 40/1 to 58/4. They finished the fourth day 135 runs away of the target, with only six wickets remaining. The Three Lions were quick to get rid of in-form opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, followed by the wickets of Karun Nair, Shubman Gill and Akash Deep.

Upon Indian captain Shubman Gill arrival onto the crease in the 13th over of the final innings, he was welcomed by an hostile English side. As Gill faced his first delivery, Ben Duckett walked near the 25-year-old from backward point, delivering a subtle yet sarcastic remark that was picked up by the stump mic. He savagely opined to his teammates that having already scored 600 runs in the series, Gill was now finished and had achieved enough.

600 runs and he is done for this series. 600 runs is enough for this fella.

Ben Duckett can be heard chirping

Surely, Gill has been prolific in the India-England series so far, excluding his performance at Lord’s. He currently leads as the highest run-scorer with 607 runs from six innings, averaging a brilliant 101.17, with two centuries and one double century. Meanwhile, Duckett’s final-innings jibe proved inadvertently accurate, as Gill was dismissed for only six runs by Brydon Carse later that day.

Interestingly, Duckett also had an earlier confrontation with Rishabh Pant, who was playing with an injured finger, regarding his reduced scoring rate. The Indian wicket-keeper responded accordingly, pointing out that Duckett’s own batting approach is similar.

Mohammed Siraj Penalized by ICC for His Fiery Send-Off to England Opener Ben Duckett at Lord’s 

Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj has been fined 15 percent of his match-fee and handed a demerit point for his aggressive send-off aimed at Ben Duckett, at Lord’s. The incident for which Siraj has been penalized occurred early on Day 4, following the England opener’s wicket in the sixth over of the second innings. 

Following Duckett’s, the 31-year-old bowler celebrated emphatically by screaming directly in his face and tapping his shoulder. The International Cricket Council (ICC) concluded that Siraj’s behavior violated Level 1 of Article 2.5 of the Code of Conduct, classifying it as an ‘excessive celebration at close proximity to the dismissed batter.’ The bowler has been reprimanded for ‘provoking an aggressive reaction.’

After the end of the day’s play, Siraj admitted to the offense and accepted the sanction put on him by match referee Richie Richardson. The right-arm pacer is now at risk of suspension if he accrues two additional demerit points, having already received one against Australia last December.