“Be lenient, find some time because it’s India” - Match referee Chris Broad’s stunning revelations after ENG vs IND 2025 Tests

Former ICC match referee Chris Broad made a startling revelation about how Team India was allegedly offered leniency regarding slow over-rates due to outside influences. Chris, the father of legendary England pacer Stuart Broad, opened up about receiving phone calls, instructing him to permit India an escape from slow over-rate repercussions.

Broad was an esteemed ICC match referee for over two decades from 2003 to early 2024, overseeing 622 international games, including 123 Tests, 361 ODIs, and 138 T20Is. While Broad did not specify the game in question, he mentioned Sourav Ganguly as the Indian captain during this episode.

"I got a phone call saying, ‘be lenient, find some time because it’s India’. And it’s like, right, OK. So we had to find some time, brought it down below the threshold. The very next game, exactly the same thing happened. He [Sourav Ganguly] didn’t listen to any of the hurry-ups and so I phoned and said, ‘what do you want me to do now?’ and I was told ‘just do him’. I dodged a lot of bullets, both politically and physically," he said in an interview for The Telegraph (via Wisden).

Slow over-rates have historically led to fines, bans, and other penalties, including restrictions on fielders outside the inner circle.

A Lookback at Sourav Ganguly's Team India captaincy tenure

Sourav Ganguly remains one of India's most successful captains, having led the side in 195 games between 1999 and 2005. Under him, the Asian side won 97 and lost 78 matches across Tests and ODIs.

Ganguly also led India to their second ICC title in the 2022 Champions Trophy, where they shared the trophy with hosts Sri Lanka. The former left-hander also captained the side to an incredible run in the 2003 ODI World Cup, where they finished runners-up to Australia.

Furthermore, Ganguly also led India to a 1-1 drawn Test series in England and Australia between 2002 and 2004. The legendary cricketer is also one of India's most accomplished batters, finishing with over 18,000 runs and 38 centuries in his illustrious 424-game career.

Ganguly is third all-time for wins as an Indian captain in ODIs and Tests with 76 and 21, respectively.