On Day 1 of the second Test between England and India at Edgbaston, a bizarre moment unfolded in the 34th over of India’s innings. England pacer Brydon Carse, while bowling to Indian captain Shubman Gill, made an unusual hand gesture during his run-up that left the batter visibly confused. The moment occurred mid-over and immediately caught the attention of fans and commentators alike.
As Carse charged in to bowl after delivering the third ball of the over, he unexpectedly extended his left hand outward, gesturing toward the off side. The move came right before his delivery stride, throwing Gill off rhythm. Sensing something odd and clearly distracted by the action, Gill backed away from his stance and signaled to stop the play, forcing the umpire to call it a dead ball.
Carse, unaware of what had gone wrong, looked visibly puzzled. He exchanged a few words with his teammates and appeared unsure about what had caused Gill to pull out. While bowlers occasionally modify their approach or rhythm to unsettle batters, a sudden gesture like this can create genuine confusion. For the batter, anything unexpected during the bowler’s run-up can be seen as a disruption or even a tactic to break concentration.
Interestingly, the drama didn’t end there. On the very next delivery, Carse bowled a sharp 150 kmph inswinger that crashed into Gill’s pads. The English players went up in a loud LBW appeal and even opted for a DRS review. However, the replays showed a clear inside edge off Gill’s bat, nullifying the appeal and saving the Indian skipper from what could have been a game-changing dismissal.
This trick 😳 shubman gill almost got out pic.twitter.com/6yxQhSTab9
— cricket videos (@RizwanStum60450) July 2, 2025
The strange gesture and its immediate aftermath sparked conversation among fans, with many questioning whether it was intentional or just an awkward moment. Regardless of intent, it added a bit of drama and tension to the day’s play, showing how even the smallest actions on the field can have significant psychological impact during a high-stakes Test match.