Manchester, UK – The ongoing fourth Test between India and England at Old Trafford has seen mounting pressure on the visitors, largely due to England’s dominant batting performance. For the second consecutive day, Indian bowlers endured a wicketless session, as Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, and Ollie Pope steadily built England’s innings, reaching 332/2 after tea on Day 2. Amidst this struggle, India’s captain Shubman Gill faced heavy scrutiny, particularly for his perplexing decision to largely sideline spin all-rounder Washington Sundar.
In a baffling move that baffled commentators and fans alike, Washington Sundar, the only other spinner in the team alongside Ravindra Jadeja, was kept away from the bowling attack for a staggering 68 overs. This reluctance to turn to Sundar only compounded India’s woes as the pacers, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and debutant Anshul Kamboj, struggled to break partnerships.
Gill’s apprehension towards Sundar was particularly hard to comprehend given the all-rounder’s impressive performance in the previous Test at Lord’s, where he picked up 4/22 in England’s second innings. With none of the other bowlers succeeding in making inroads, eyebrows were continually raised with each over that Sundar was ignored.
Sanjay Manjrekar Blames Head Coach Gautam Gambhir for Captain’s Decision
Veteran cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar, however, pointed the finger not at Gill, but at head coach Gautam Gambhir. Manjrekar strongly suggested that Gambhir should have been more proactive and intervened in the captain’s “bizarre” decision-making. While acknowledging Gill’s youth and relative inexperience (this being his third Test as captain), Manjrekar expressed surprise that Gambhir, a seasoned veteran, did not influence the bowling strategy.
“Sorry, but even I don’t have the answer to that question. Not that I have been racking my brain as to why. The pure spinner. We are not 65 overs into the innings. What is the logic, and what is he in there for? If you needed any assurance, he picked up 4 wickets in the last match. This is a bizarre move, a move which is obviously not made. And I hold Gautam Gambhir responsible for it. And it’s not just the captain. He is obviously a young captain so he’s got that excuse and you’ve got to be forgiving of Shubman Gill. Surely the coach should have a say,” Manjrekar stated emphatically during commentary.
Sundar Delivers, Proves Captain Wrong with Quick Wickets
The long wait for Washington Sundar finally ended with just 15 minutes left for the lunch interval on Day 3. Given the ball, he immediately proved his captain wrong, delivering crucial breakthroughs. Right into the second session, Sundar dismissed two key English batters in quick succession: Ollie Pope and Harry Brook.
His first wicket came when he sent down a delivery that didn’t turn as much as Pope anticipated, leading the batter to nick it to first slip, where KL Rahul held a sharp low catch.
[Watch Sundar’s wickets here – insert link to video if available]
Just three overs later, Sundar foxed Harry Brook by tempting him to step out of his crease. The ball beat Brook’s defense, allowing wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel to complete a swift stumping. With two wickets in just three overs, Sundar once again underscored his value to the team and demonstrated precisely why he cannot be overlooked, especially on a pitch offering some assistance to spinners.
This performance is likely to reignite discussions about India’s spin strategy and the communication dynamics within the team’s leadership group.