Dilip Jajodia Responds to Shubman Gill’s Allegations on Dukes Ball Softening: A Deep Dive into the Controversy

Dilip Jajodia’s Defense: Balancing Craftsmanship and Modern Cricket

81-year-old Dilip Jajodia, owner of British Cricket Balls Ltd., has been constantly facing backlash from the players in the ongoing Test series between England and India for his handcrafted ball softening rapidly. Speaking to various media, Jajodia emphasized the complexities of manufacturing a cricket ball using natural materials like leather, cork, rubber, and hand stitching to put all the elements together. 

In his own words, Jajodia said that the manufacturer has to give the new ball, and since it's all made out of natural products and handcrafted, it can’t be tested until it's being used in the game. In short, there is no 100% guarantee of the product quality. 

Jajodia argued that the ball’s softening is a natural process, mandated by cricket’s laws, which allows a new ball after 80 overs precisely because the ball is expected to deteriorate. 

He cautioned that a harder ball could damage bats or even injure players, so they have to be careful about that particular area as well. 

Jajodia also pointed to external factors that contribute to the issue. The unusually hot and dry weather in England during the 2025 summer, combined with flatter pitches, has reduced the ball’s ability to maintain its seam and hardness. Modern bats, which are more powerful and stronger players hitting the ball harder and farther, often into hard surfaces like pillars and seats, further accelerate wear. Addressing Shubman Gil, Jajodia said that he is a six-hitter himself as well. 

“He is a very good-looking orthodox batsman, but he was hitting sixes,” Jajodia noted, suggesting that the evolution of the game itself contributes to the ball’s deterioration.

In response to the criticism, Jajodia announced that his company would thoroughly investigate the issue. Via BBC, Jajodia told the reporters that, “We will take it away, inspect and then start talking to the tanner, talking about all of the raw materials – everything.”

However, he also asked players to be patient as the process will take some time and there’s nothing that can be done in the mid-series. 

Shubman Gill’s Allegations: A Bowler’s Nightmare

Since the inception of the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, the tournament has been overcast with clouds of controversy. Shubman Gill, skipper of Team Blue, has been persistently complaining about the Duke ball quality and performance. According to Gill, the ball loses its shape and gets softer way before the 80 overs mark, which troubles bowlers to scalp wickets. 

In an interview, Gill addressed the problem of the ball losing its shape and rapid softening. He stated, noting that the lack of assistance from the ball, combined with flat pitches, makes wicket-taking a daunting task. Gill’s concerns were echoed during the third Test at Lord’s, where India requested multiple ball changes, including two within 20 overs of a new ball, as the ball failed to retain its shape or hardness.  

The Lord’s Test on July 10-11 intensified the controversy. India’s second new ball, taken at 80.1 overs, lasted just 63 deliveries before being deemed out of shape, and its replacement was changed again after only 48 deliveries. Gill’s visible frustration, including heated discussions with umpire Sharfuddoula, emphasized the issue’s impact on the game. Former England pacer Stuart Broad also weighed in, calling the frequent ball changes “unacceptable” and urging Dukes to address the problem. x

How does Duke Ball affect batting once it's getting soft?

Once the Duke's ball softens, typically after 20-30 overs, batting becomes significantly easier in Test cricket due to the reduced effectiveness of bowlers. A softer ball loses its seam prominence and ability to swing or drift away from the pitch, making it less challenging for batters to predict its behavior. This allows players like Shubman Gill to play with greater confidence, as evidenced by his prolific scoring in the 2025 India and England Test series, where he amassed 600-plus runs and broken a few records. 

On flat pitches, common in the dry English summer, the softened ball further favors batters, enabling them to drive, cut, and high stroke with minimal risk, often leading to high-scoring partnerships and big totals, as seen in England’s 303-run stand at Edgbaston.

For now, the India-England series will progress with the fourth Test at Manchester starting on July 23. However, the Duke's ball controversy remains a major concern until the promised investigations by Jajodia are completed.