![ENG vs IND [WATCH]: Stump mic captures Shubman Gill’s cheeky ‘Injection Liya?’ remark to Akash Deep in Oval Test](https://crickettimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Stump-mic-catches-Shubman-Gill-asking-pacer-Injection-Liya-on-Day-4-of-final-Test.jpg "ENG vs IND [WATCH]: Stump mic captures Shubman Gill’s cheeky ‘Injection Liya?’ remark to Akash Deep in Oval Test")
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Day 4 of the final Test between India and England at The Oval produced more than just high-octane cricket. With England mounting a record chase, the tension for the Indian team was palpable. In the midst of this gripping contest, a moment of raw desperation and wit from India’s young captain, Shubman Gill, stood out. As the microphones captured every shred of on-field chatter, Gill’s question to pacer Akash Deep—“Injection liya kya tum?” (“Have you taken an injection?”)—offered a rare, unscripted glimpse into the captain’s struggle to keep his bowling arsenal firing at full force amidst injury woes.
Shubman Gill’s concern for Akash Deep on Day 4 of the fifth Test
The Oval Test was slipping from India’s grasp as Joe Root and Harry Brook stitched together a majestic 195-run partnership, leaving the hosts just 57 runs shy of a record chase at tea. India’s bowlers, both seamers and spinners, failed to create breakthroughs, and with senior pacers like Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna wearing down, Gill had few options left. Akash, already nursing a shin injury sustained from a fierce Brook shot, was the captain’s last hope to rotate in a fresh bowler.
Caught on the stump mic, Gill’s direct question to Akash—about whether he’d taken an injection for pain relief—was as much an expression of urgency as it was of anxiety. The rapid-fire exchange quickly went viral, resonating with fans and pundits who saw in it both Gill’s desperation and the mounting pressure on the Indian squad. While such behind-the-scenes candor is seldom broadcast, this audio snippet laid bare the tactical calculations and emotional pulse of top-level cricket.
Here’s the video:
— The Game Changer (@TheGame_26) August 3, 2025
Also WATCH: Mohammed Siraj turns into Virat Kohli; fires up crowd with passionate appeal
Viral banter and the burden of leadership for Gill
The viral spread of Gill’s inquiry was a testament to how modern media amplifies even the smallest moments on the field. But beyond its meme value, it underscored the burdens that leadership imposes upon young captains. Home viewers saw not just a witty quip, but a real-time example of how captains improvise under stress—juggling player fitness, match dynamics, and fast-changing game situations.
In the final session, Gill’s choices were limited: with spinners Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja proving ineffective and the new ball still 14 overs away, cycling back to Akash became a necessary, if risky, move. Gill’s audible frustration highlighted the thin margins and relentless scrutiny of modern cricket, especially during pivotal contests such as this Test, where every bowling spell and injury can shift the narrative.
