A report has revealed a serious issue being brought to light by the Indian team management regarding England being given preferential treatment when it comes to choosing balls on multiple occasions in the ongoing Test series.

The red cherry remains the focus of attention as the series enters its final round, and Indian authorities want to reexamine the procedure used to select the balls for a Test match.

As per a report in the Indian Express, among the match balls delivered to both sides in the dressing room before the start of the game, one is a darker shade of red, while the others are pure red.

It is believed that the deeper hue swings more than others, and when the Indian team requested it, they were informed that England had already selected it as their second new ball.

“I am not alleging anything, but when we asked for the darker ball, we were told that was the ball England had selected as their second new ball," the official was quoted as saying.

According to protocol, the fourth umpire from the host nation is responsible for selecting the balls and carrying the box to the locker rooms. According to the official, the entire procedure can be manipulated to benefit the home team because there is no impartial arbiter (match referee).

“The match referee, the neutral chief judge of the test, is not present. The right thing would be to have this ball selection in the match referee’s room and not in the dressing room with the local umpire as the only official present," he added.

India has repeatedly requested that the ball be replaced, claiming that it is losing its shape and becoming too soft too soon. The maker of the Dukes ball, which is the brand used in the Test series, has defended the quality, saying that if the balls were made harder, people would break their backs and fingers.