Criticism of Shubman Gill’s Captaincy After Tough Day in Manchester
Former England captain Nasser Hussain has expressed strong criticism of Indian skipper Shubman Gill following India’s challenging Day 3 in the fourth Test in Manchester. On July 25, the team struggled as England amassed an impressive 544 runs for the loss of seven wickets by the end of the day.
One major concern raised by Hussain was how India’s star bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, was utilized during England’s first innings. He noted that while England’s captain Ben Stokes took advantage of the bounce from the Brian Statham End, it was surprising that Bumrah primarily bowled from the opposite end.
Hussain pointed out, “Ben Stokes took five wickets from the Brian Statham End, where there is extra bounce, yet Jasprit Bumrah mostly bowled from the Sir Jimmy Anderson End,” highlighting a potential tactical error by Gill’s leadership.
Concerns Over Underusing Washington Sundar
Another significant topic of discussion was India’s choice not to utilize Washington Sundar more effectively. Sundar, included in the team as an all-rounder, initially made a strong impression by dismissing England’s Ollie Pope and Harry Brook in quick succession.
Hussain criticized India for waiting until the 69th over, when England had already scored 305 runs for two wickets, to bring Sundar back into the bowling attack. “It was remarkable. He showed great confidence in his plans after taking four wickets and made a noticeable impact,” said Hussain.
Sundar’s ability to create drift with the old ball further questions why India didn’t turn to spin earlier, especially when their pace bowlers were finding it tough to take wickets.
With the series trending against them, Shubman Gill now faces a crucial test to lead his team back into contention in this five-match series.
