In the five-game series between India and England, the Dukes ball has become one of the more surprising topics of discussion. The issue has grown into a major discussion after starting off as muted grumbling about its quality. Both teams, particularly India, have expressed their dissatisfaction with the ball's behavior. After three games, the team's form and fitness have been the subject of nearly as much discussion as the players themselves.

India's patience ran out when their request for a replacement ball during the third test at Lord's on Day 2 was turned down. The video captured the evident rage in the Indian camp at that precise moment. Not everyone agreed with the visitors that the ball was losing its shape and affecting the game. Former England captain Alastair Cook, in reality, made a lighthearted comment on the bowlers about the issue.

"I adore how bowlers are always complaining. It's as if they bowl a bad ball, and it's never their fault." On BBC Sport, Cook stated, "They've scraped the footmark... if they bowl a bad ball, they look at the ball and blame the shape."

Cook, who was previously an opener, then momentarily shifted his perspective to recognize the batter's predicament.

I believe a batsman would prefer to hit a somewhat harder delivery. There is nothing worse than hitting a beautiful cover drive like I used to and having it go nowhere," he continued, emphasizing how a worn ball may affect even the cleanest of strokes.

Nasser's previous excavation

Nasser Hussain had previously criticized India's tenacity in the Test, describing their efforts to change the ball as "bizarre."

"I'm not sure why you'd want to alter a ball that was performing this well. The former England captain said, "I thought it was one of the strangest decisions," unconvinced by India's rationale.

India is in a tough spot, needing to win the fourth test, which will begin at Old Trafford on July 23, against not only England's in-form lineup but also, maybe, the unpredictable nature of the Dukes ball, which has been making headlines.

Read Also: Chiefs’ New Star Poised to Overtake Travis Kelce as Fantasy Football King, Experts Claim