IND Vs ENG, 4th Test: Shubman Gill Thrown Into The Deep End On England Tour, Says Sanjay Manjrekar

Former India cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar believes that Shubman Gill, who is leading India for the first time in England, has been burdened with "immense responsibility" during a challenging series where India trails 1-2 in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

India arrived in England without stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, aiming for a historic series win on English soil — something they haven’t achieved since 2007. While Gill showed resilience as a batter in the first three Tests, Manjrekar feels the fourth Test at Old Trafford has tested the young captain beyond his limits.

“Shubman Gill is on his first trip to England as a batter and has also been thrown into the deep end as captain, carrying immense responsibility. He fought well across the first three Tests, but this game feels slightly beyond India, considering the challenges and resources,” Manjrekar said on JioHotstar.

Injury Setbacks Hurt India

India’s balance took a severe hit due to injuries to Akash Deep and Nitish Kumar Reddy, forcing the management to fly in uncapped pacer Anshul Kamboj, who was immediately drafted into the playing XI.

“India's bowling was hampered by Akash Deep's unavailability — he picked up 10 wickets in the last Test but missed out due to injury. Anshul Kamboj came in, but struggled to rise to the demands of Test cricket,” Manjrekar pointed out.

Spin vs. Pace: A Selection Dilemma

Manjrekar reiterated his long-standing belief that spinners remain an afterthought for India in overseas Tests. While the pace quartet of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kamboj, and Shardul Thakur bowled a combined 83 overs for just three wickets, the spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar claimed four wickets in 52 overs.

“One area India could've improved is their bowling combination, seamers bowled nearly 82 overs for just three wickets, while spin got four wickets in just 52 overs. That's something they'll need to reassess. The standout, though, was Mohammed Siraj — it was great to see him bowl with such heart right till the end,” Manjrekar said.

England’s Dominance And Day 4 해외카지노

England, powered by Joe Root’s 150 and Ben Stokes’ unbeaten 77, ended Day 3 with a commanding 544/7, leading India by 186 runs. With Stokes set to continue, Manjrekar expects England to press for an unassailable 3-1 series lead.

“India won’t be thinking of a draw — they’ll be hoping for the sun to be out so they can pile on runs and put pressure back on England. The surface is showing signs of uneven bounce, so it could get tricky for some bowlers. Chris Woakes may not be as effective, but Ben Stokes will still need to bowl a lot of overs.

"Jofra Archer’s tall action and ability to target the stumps could prove dangerous, especially if the ball stays low. And watch out for Liam Dawson — not necessarily for unplayable deliveries, but he’ll play a crucial role in England’s bowling strategy.”