Why Shubman Gill wore black socks in Leeds Test?
Shubman Gill Under Fire for Sock Rule Breach During Leeds Test. On June 20, 2025, Shubman Gill gave the first remembrance to his first term as India’s Test skipper at Headingley. With a dominant unbeaten 127, he took the lead from the front, putting India in a dominant position against England. His knock put him in the same league as legends Sunil Gavaskar and Virat Kohli, who also registered centuries on their captaincy debuts. So Let’s take a look at Why Shubman Gill wore black socks in Leeds Test?.
But the excitement was dampened by a strange controversy, Gill was seen wearing black socks, a clear violation of ICC dress code rules for Test cricket.
As per ICC’s dressing code guidelines, especially Clause 19.45, the players must don white, cream, or light-grey socks in the Test format to maintain the uniform standards of the game. Gill’s black socks, while a small point, would arguably constitute a Level 1 offense under the ICC Code of Conduct. Sanctions for such transgressions can include a formal warning or a deduction of up to 20% of the player’s match fee, based on the referee’s assessment of intention.
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A Style Error or Intentional Defiance? Match Referee to Decide
The matter is now in the hands of match referee Richie Richardson, who will determine if the breach was genuine or, having perhaps been caught out by a last-minute technical malfunction, a wilful disregard for rules. A verdict of error on their part may result in a gentle reprimand, whereas wilful non-compliance may attract a financial sanction.
This show uncovers the high standards expected of today’s players, particularly in a conservative game like Test cricket. Uniform codes are not merely cosmetic choices, but they represent discipline, solidarity, and reverence for the heritage of the game. The rigorous adherence to such standards maintains fairness and visual uniformity on the pitch.
As India’s performance in Leeds remains impressive, courtesy of Gill’s calm captaincy and support from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant, the sock controversy adds a peculiar subplot to what might have otherwise been a completely victorious debut. Whether this event will be forgotten as a small gaffe or become a quirky aside from Gill’s maiden Test in charge will rest on the disposition of the decision of the match referee.
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