In the first Test against England at Headingley, Shubman Gill started his captaincy with a bang. By playing an unbeaten innings of 127 runs, he showed everyone why he is India’s new Test captain.
Be it a 129-run partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal (101) or a 138-run partnership with Rishabh Pant (65*), Gill set an example of class and confidence at the crease. But amidst this brilliant performance, a small mistake caught everyone’s attention, which is his black socks!
Also Read: Watch: Dhruv Jurel Reveals Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Hunger for Scoring Big Runs in England
What is the fuss about black socks?
Actually, Gill wore black socks with the traditional white kit of the Test, which is against the strict rules of the ICC. The ICC’s clothing and equipment rules (Clause 19.45) clearly state that only white, cream or light grey socks can be worn in the Test.
But Gill’s “fashion statement” caught the attention of match referee Richie Richardson. Now the question is—will Gill be punished for this mistake?
If Richardson considers it a deliberate Level 1 offense, then Gill may be fined 10-20% of his match fee. But if the mistake was unintentional, such as white socks were wet or not available, then he may get away.
Level 2 offenses can result in a 50-100% fine and even a match ban, but this rarely happens for dress code. The official statement of ICC and Richardson is yet to come.
Read Also WATCH: MPL 2025 Brings Crazy Drama with Collision and Missed Run-out Opportunities
Fine was imposed earlier too.
This is nothing new. In 2018, KL Rahul was fined 10% of his match fee for wearing the wrong helmet. Chris Gayle was also fined 10% for using a black bat in BBL.
In 2019, Imam-ul-Haq had to pay a 15% fine for a bat with an unauthorized logo. Even in 2021, Joe Root was fined 15% for wearing a jersey supporting LGBTQ+.
Gill’s mistake may seem small, but there is no leniency in ICC rules.
Fans are just praying that their new captain’s focus remains on batting and leadership, and not on this socks drama.
