Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali has come out in support of Shubman Gill and his passionate on-field demeanour. He brushed aside the criticism India’s young skipper has received over his on-field altercation with Zak Crawley and other English players. Gill’s aggressive attitude has even drawn comparisons to Virat Kohli from fans and cricket experts alike.

On Day 3 of the third Test, Shubman Gill confronted Zak Crawley on-field. Frustration boiled over at the fact that Crawley was delaying the game repeatedly, stepping away and calling a physio after he got a blow to his glove. India on the other hand were aiming to deliver the complete over before stumps. Gill lashed out and his words “Get some b***s, grow some f**king b***s” were caught on the stump mic.

While many criticised Gill’s leadership, Moeen offered a different view and suggested that the young captain has shown intensity and has been leading the team from the front. He even acknowledged that Gill’s aggression might have matched England’s competitive spirit.

“It’s fine, I think he was just trying to be competitive and try to fight, very similar to Virat Kohli, I think it’s fine. But what you have done is that you brought out the best of England, the fight, and the beast England can be. I think that’s the different side of England that the players showed. It’s great for the series, I don’t know why he gets criticised,” Moeen said in a selected media interaction on the sidelines of GPL, which is streaming on FanCode.

India will now be playing the fourth Test, scheduled to start from July 23 at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground. This is a very important Test and India will be aiming to bounce back strongly.