'Siraj fined 15% but Shubman Gill spared' - Stuart Broad calls out inconsistent officiating in IND vs ENG 3rd Test at Lord's

Divy Dubey

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'Siraj fined 15% but Shubman Gill spared' - Stuart Broad calls out inconsistent officiating in IND vs ENG 3rd Test at Lord's image

Mohammed Siraj's fiery celebration after dismissing Ben Duckett at Lord's has sparked a fresh debate around consistency in match officiating. And surprisingly, one of the voices coming to his defence is former England fast bowler Stuart Broad.

Siraj was fined 15% of his match fee and handed a demerit point for what the ICC termed "excessive celebration" in close proximity to the batter. The incident occurred on Day 4 of the third Test when Siraj gave Duckett an animated send-off after dismissing him in the sixth over.

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According to the ICC, the celebration included shouting and a brush of bodies as the England opener began his walk back.

Stuart Broad calls out inconsistency in ICC rulings

Stuart Broad didn't hold back while slamming the penalty handed to Siraj. In a post on X, Broad wrote:

"Find this ridiculous. Siraj 15% for aggressive celebration. Gill swears live on TV & carries on and what? It's either both or neither. Players aren't and shouldn't be robots but consistency is key."

Broad's comment also referenced Shubman Gill's behaviour during the same match, implying that the Indian skipper's outburst, which went unpunished, deserved equal scrutiny.

More: Is Shubman Gill more like Dhoni or Kohli? Sanjay Manjrekar asks what fuels his batting - calmness or anger

Mohammed Siraj picks up second demerit point

This was Siraj's second demerit point in 24 months - the first coming during India's 2024 Adelaide Test against Australia. He accepted the charge without a formal hearing.

More: IND vs ENG 3rd Test 2025: Dinesh Karthik says England hold the advantage over India on Day 5 at Lord's

If he picks up two more, it would trigger a suspension under ICC rules. England batting coach Marcus Trescothick also weighed in, telling BBC Test Match Special that tensions were natural in such a high-stakes series.

As the match stands, England and India are locked in a tense match with India needing 135 runs and England six wickets on the final day.

Divy Dubey

Divy Dubey is a content producer for The Sporting News' India edition. He has a passion for cricket and is an avid fan of football. His work spans culture, media, and digital trends. With a background in research and a curiosity-driven approach, he enjoys crafting thoughtful, engaging stories that invite readers to see everyday topics in a new light.