Red ball or red flag? Why is everyone mad at the Dukes ball

Everyone saw Rishabh Pant lose his cool and throw the ball in anger at the umpire. And now, read his latest statement on the Dukes ball.

"I feel it's a big problem because the ball is getting out of shape but at the same time it's not up to us because visually when you see the ball you can see it's the de-shape but the rules are like such until someone changes it, it's not up to the players."

But here’s the big question — why is the ball making more headlines than the players in this series? Over 2,500 runs in just 2 Tests. Bowlers are getting hammered. And the Dukes ball? It’s become public enemy number one. The red cherry has gone soft — both literally and metaphorically.

And it’s not just us saying it — both teams feel the same. From Shubman Gill to Ben Stokes, the captains have agreed that the ball is losing its bite far too early, leaving nothing for the bowlers to work with.

Even the infamous metal ring — the gauge that umpires use to check if the ball has gone out of shape — isn’t winning any fans in the dressing rooms.

"I feel the guage should be the same, but if it is slightly smaller, it would be better," said Pant before the Lord's Test.

So if both sides are reporting the same issue, is there really something wrong with the Dukes ball? The manufacturer’s defence? “If we made the ball harder, it’d be breaking bats.” Not exactly music to a bowler’s ears.

The rules also state that the ball is supposed to wear down after 80 overs. So, is it fair for players to complain when it stops behaving after just 20?

Yes, if the ball is genuinely out of shape, there's a provision to change it. But can a ball be considered ‘unfit’ just because it stops swinging? Maybe not.

So, is the problem with the ball, or are the expectations swinging too far? What do you think?