IND vs ENG: ‘A major red flag’ — Sanjay Manjrekar slams Shubman Gill over Washington Sundar snub on Day 3 | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has questioned Shubman Gill’s captaincy instincts, calling his decision to delay Washington Sundar’s introduction into the attack on Day 3 of the fourth Test in Manchester “a major red flag.”Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!England, resuming from 225/2, ended the day at a formidable 544/7, taking a 186-run lead and putting India on the back foot. Much of the scrutiny, however, fell on Gill’s choice to wait until the 69th over to bring on off-spinner Sundar — despite the pitch showing signs of turn and India’s pacers struggling to make breakthroughs.
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Should Washington Sundar have been introduced earlier in the attack?
Sundar made an immediate impact once introduced, removing Ollie Pope for 71 and then dismissing Harry Brook for just 3 runs. The late double-strike provided India a brief window back into the game, but many questioned why the off-spinner wasn’t used earlier — especially after taking 4/22 in the second innings at Lord’s.
Speaking on Star Sports, Manjrekar didn’t mince his words: “So him [Gill] not bowling Washington Sundar… and there’s no plausible reason for him to not bowl. I see this as a major red flag with Shubman Gill’s, you know, trait as a captain.”Manjrekar further criticised Gill’s preference for sticking with underperforming pacers on a track that clearly offered turn, noting it showed a lack of tactical awareness.Former England pacer Stuart Broad echoed Manjrekar’s sentiments.“Everybody’s been saying, where’s Washington Sundar? Why are we not seeing him? They’re 300-odd for two and we haven’t seen the off-spinner who got 4 for 22 in the last innings at Lord’s,” Broad remarked on the broadcast.India now face a daunting task on Day 4, with England already firmly in command and Joe Root’s sparkling 150 ensuring the hosts are on track for a series-clinching win.
