'I can't see Bumrah, Rahul, Gambhir agreeing with Shubman Gill': India captain faces fresh fire on bizarre decision

By Admin

26 Jul, 2025

A tactical conundrum at Old Trafford
India's Manchester Test turned into a tactical nightmare on Day 3, as England surged ahead with a formidable 544/7, building a 186-run lead. The hero of the day was Joe Root, who slammed a masterful 150, surpassing Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest run-scorer in Test history. But while Root's milestone brought joy to the England camp, the Indian camp was caught in a cloud of confusion   all stemming from one strange decision: the non-utilization of Washington Sundar.

Sundar left out in the cold
Despite being brought into the XI over Kuldeep Yadav, Sundar was mysteriously left out of the bowling attack for the entirety of Day 3. This came as a shock considering the Old Trafford pitch was beginning to assist spinners with notable grip and variable bounce. India fielded just one frontline spinner in Ravindra Jadeja, making Sundar’s absence from the attack even more perplexing.

This decision became harder to defend as England batters   Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, and Ben Stokes   piled on the runs with minimal resistance. Sundar, fresh from a four-wicket haul at Lord’s, seemed the ideal option to apply pressure and break the partnerships. Yet, Shubman Gill kept him waiting   and ultimately unused.

Manjrekar's blunt critique
The curious case of Sundar's exclusion prompted former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar to question the leadership dynamics within the team. Speaking on JioHotstar’s post-match analysis, Manjrekar pulled no punches.

“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stage of his career, you'd expect him to get some inputs… or considering he has done so well as a batter, everybody has withdrawn, saying ‘this guy is getting into the zone’,” he said.

Manjrekar went a step further, naming senior players who would likely have opposed such a call: “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.”

Leadership under the scanner
While Shubman Gill has shown moments of tactical acumen in his early days as captain, his decision-making in high-pressure scenarios is now under scrutiny. Bringing in Sundar but not using him has baffled both analysts and fans alike. On a day when England ran rampant, India needed every resource at their disposal   especially one as handy as Sundar.

England on the brink
To make matters worse, England shows no signs of slowing down. Though Jadeja finally dismissed Root and Stokes had to briefly retire due to cramps, the English skipper returned to finish the day unbeaten on 77, alongside Liam Dawson. With a massive lead and two full days remaining, the hosts are poised to clinch the five-match series.

Final thoughts
India now faces an uphill battle   not just in the match but in ironing out its leadership flaws. Gill’s reluctance to rotate bowlers effectively has exposed a gap in tactical depth, one that seasoned heads like Bumrah or Rahul might have filled. If India hopes to salvage the series, sharper strategies and better utilization of resources will be non-negotiable in the days ahead.