Gill didn’t turn to Sundar until the 69th over despite his seamers looking woefully out of rhythm.
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar didn’t mince words as he slammed skipper Shubman Gill for his reluctant use of spin in the form of Washington Sundar even as England batters kept piling on the misery against a hapless seam attack on Day 3 of the Manchester Test
The hosts raced past India’s first-innings 358 as each of their top-4 batters scored over 70 runs, with No. 4 veteran Joe Root slamming his 38th Test ton (150).
By the end of the day, England gained a huge lead of 182 runs, with Ben Stokes (77*) and Liam Dawson (21*) unbeaten at the crease.
Despite his seamers looking woefully out of rhythm, Gill didn’t turn to Sundar until the 69th over. The Tamil Nadu lad made an instant impact after being called up to bowl late in the innings. He didn’t only provide control but dismissed Ollie Pope and Harry Brook in quick succession.
In the post-day presser, India bowling coach Morne Morkel revealed that Sundar’s delayed injection into the attack was solely Gill’s decision.
“Shubman made the call to stick longer with the seam options. In the first couple of days, we saw the ball was seaming and moving around. Pace on the ball was the way to go. Then, when we got out opportunity to bowl, we missed our lengths. When he got the opportunity with ball in hand today, Washi did a great job for us,” Morkel told reporters.
Manjrekar stated that he could not see head coach Gautam Gambhir and senior players like KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah standing in agreement with Gill’s ploy and unwillingness to use spin.
“Can we assume that these decisions were taken solely by Shubman Gill? At this stage of his career, you’d expect him to get some inputs… or considering he has done so well as a batter, everybody has withdrawn, saying ‘this guy is getting into the zone’,” Manjrekar said on ESPNCricinfo.
“Because I can’t see everyone agreeing to this kind of move. Bumrah, KL Rahul, or a Gambhir thinking Washi should not be bowled… come what may,” he added.
“That he [Gill] went to Washington Sundar post 60 overs was just hard to understand. This is a guy who has just given you a reminder in the last Test match by getting four wickets. Also, when the second new ball was due, I just saw his keenness to go to the second new ball quickly. There was Ben Stokes out there clearly not comfortable against spin.
“It almost like he goes to spin reluctantly and even when they deliver, he’s not keen to stay with them,” he further remarked.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri also questioned the captain’s decision, suggesting that it sends a wrong message to Sundar who delivered a fine spell in the third Test at Lord’s as well.
“Washington Sundar took four wickets in the last game. Then you bring that bloke after 67 overs. What does it tell that player? He will be like, ‘I have taken four, I should be a frontrunner bowling within the first 30 to 35 overs, and you get me on after 67’. Tactically, I thought they (India) were found wanting,” Shastri said while speaking on Sky Sports.