EXCLUSIVE | ‘Players Today Are Cry Babies’: Dukes Owner Hits Back as Ball Controversy Boils Over

“Players these days are cry babies,” says Dilip Jajodia, owner of the Dukes cricket ball, in an exclusive interview with Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net), as the storm over prematurely deteriorating balls in the one going England vs India Test series shows no sign of abating.

NOT AT ALL HAPPY: Dilip Jajodia

Jajodia’s comments come as some of the world’s top cricketers and commentators have piled on criticism, questioning the integrity of a ball that has been an integral part of Test cricket in England.

England veteran Stuart Broad didn’t mince words, posting on X: “The cricket ball should be like a fine wicket keeper. Barely noticed. We are having to talk about the ball too much because it is such an issue & being changed virtually every innings. Unacceptable. Feels like it’s been 5 years now. Dukes have a problem. They need to fix it. A ball should last 80 overs. Not 10.”

Jajodia, who has spent over 50 years in the industry, is having none of it. “I’m not supplying balls deliberately to make people unhappy,” he said. “We test everything we can, but unlike a football, the real test is in play. If it fails, it fails. Sometimes, it’s the weather. Sometimes, it’s the power of the modern bats. You can’t simply tinker with production overnight because someone tweets about it.”

He was especially scathing about calls to tweak the laws or adjust ring sizes to accommodate failing balls. “The laws of the game should not be tampered with,” he said firmly. “If there’s a problem, it’s up to me or any other manufacturer to sort it out. That’s as simple as it gets.”

While the criticism has been fierce—balls have been replaced as early as after 63 deliveries this series — Jajodia insists much of the outrage is overblown. “It’s easy to point fingers,” he said. “When the ball is perfect, nobody says a word. No one picks up the phone to say, ‘Well done.’ But the moment something goes wrong, everyone has an opinion.”

He also questioned the lack of perspective. “Cricket is a unique game,” he said. “It’s influenced by weather, playing surfaces, powerful bats, and the skill of the players. If it were predictable, it would be boring.”

Pressed on whether Dukes would take immediate action to address complaints, Jajodia was blunt: “We’re not sitting back with our feet up smoking cigars. We are trying our best to produce a product that is world-class. But you can’t change everything mid-series. If you want a ball that never goes out of shape, you’ll end up with broken bats and broken fingers.”

While he acknowledged that the controversy is damaging —“It’s irritating, of course”—he also urged players and administrators to show patience and perspective. “I’m a perfectionist,” he said. “But the reality is, if a ball goes out of shape after being smashed around by modern bats, that’s part of the game. If you don’t want the occasional problem, maybe play another sport.”

And despite the uproar, Dukes is doubling down on its commitment to quality. Jajodia confirmed the company is ramping up operations in India, with production and finishing facilities in Meerut and distribution from Bengaluru. “We’re coming to India not to kill the market but to raise standards,” he said. “You can’t expect a top-quality ball for ₹400 while buying bats worth ₹1.8 lakh. The workers deserve better.”

As the debate rages on, Jajodia remains defiant. “People have short memories,” he said. “You have to take the criticism in your stride. If you listened to every complaint, you’d end up in the madhouse.”

For now, though, as yet another ball change interrupts the cricket, it’s clear this is a controversy with no quick fix — and no shortage of strong opinions on both sides.