emirates7 - England head into Day Four of the fourth Test at Old Trafford firmly in control, holding a dominant 186-run lead with captain Ben Stokes still unbeaten. With just three wickets down in their second innings, England look set to extend the advantage well beyond 250 runs — putting India on the brink of losing the Pataudi Trophy.
For India, the focus has shifted from chasing victory to simply surviving. A draw is now their only hope of staying in contention before the final Test at The Oval.
Mounting pressure on Indian pacers
Injuries and puzzling selection decisions have left India struggling in Manchester. Their latest setback came on Day 3 when pace leader Jasprit Bumrah exited the field shortly after taking the second new ball due to a minor injury. Mohammed Siraj, despite battling discomfort, showed commendable resilience, but the physical strain on the fast bowlers is beginning to show.
Rishabh Pant provided a glimmer of resistance with a courageous, counter-attacking fifty — despite nursing a toe fracture — but his availability for the second innings remains in doubt, adding to India’s growing list of concerns.
Gill’s captaincy trial by fire
Commentator and former player Sanjay Manjrekar believes India’s issues go beyond injuries. Speaking on JioHotstar, he remarked that Shubman Gill — captaining the side for the first time in England — has been handed a daunting task.
“Gill is on his maiden tour of England and has also been thrust into the captaincy role under immense pressure,” Manjrekar noted. “He fought admirably in the first three Tests, but this match seems to be slipping away from India given their limitations.”
One major concern has been the ineffective bowling lineup. With Akash Deep and Nitish Kumar Reddy ruled out due to injury, Anshul Kamboj was rushed in as a late replacement and thrust straight into the playing XI — a move that hasn’t paid off, as the young quick has struggled to cope with the rigors of Test cricket.
Unbalanced bowling attack
Manjrekar highlighted the stark contrast in bowling effectiveness: India’s seamers — Bumrah, Siraj, Kamboj, and Shardul Thakur — managed only three wickets across 83 overs, while spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar claimed four wickets in just 52 overs.
“India’s bowling strategy was off the mark. The pacers lacked penetration, whereas spin seemed more threatening,” he said. “That’s an area the team must reassess. Siraj, though, stood out for his heart and effort.”
Questions have also been raised about India’s team selection. They opted for four all-rounders — Jadeja, Sundar, Thakur, and Kamboj — resulting in a lineup lacking both solid batting depth and specialist bowling quality. Without a frontline bowler to support Bumrah and Siraj, and no extra top-order reinforcement, the side appears inadequately balanced.
In Manjrekar’s words, “The team seems to have overlooked a basic truth: multi-utility players might suit T20s, but Test cricket demands specialists.”
India now face an uphill battle. With England poised to set an imposing target, India’s only chance lies in producing a remarkable batting effort in the second innings — and perhaps hoping for rain to intervene. Anything less, and the series outcome may be sealed even before The Oval.
For India, the focus has shifted from chasing victory to simply surviving. A draw is now their only hope of staying in contention before the final Test at The Oval.
Mounting pressure on Indian pacers
Injuries and puzzling selection decisions have left India struggling in Manchester. Their latest setback came on Day 3 when pace leader Jasprit Bumrah exited the field shortly after taking the second new ball due to a minor injury. Mohammed Siraj, despite battling discomfort, showed commendable resilience, but the physical strain on the fast bowlers is beginning to show.
Rishabh Pant provided a glimmer of resistance with a courageous, counter-attacking fifty — despite nursing a toe fracture — but his availability for the second innings remains in doubt, adding to India’s growing list of concerns.
Gill’s captaincy trial by fire
Commentator and former player Sanjay Manjrekar believes India’s issues go beyond injuries. Speaking on JioHotstar, he remarked that Shubman Gill — captaining the side for the first time in England — has been handed a daunting task.
“Gill is on his maiden tour of England and has also been thrust into the captaincy role under immense pressure,” Manjrekar noted. “He fought admirably in the first three Tests, but this match seems to be slipping away from India given their limitations.”
One major concern has been the ineffective bowling lineup. With Akash Deep and Nitish Kumar Reddy ruled out due to injury, Anshul Kamboj was rushed in as a late replacement and thrust straight into the playing XI — a move that hasn’t paid off, as the young quick has struggled to cope with the rigors of Test cricket.
Unbalanced bowling attack
Manjrekar highlighted the stark contrast in bowling effectiveness: India’s seamers — Bumrah, Siraj, Kamboj, and Shardul Thakur — managed only three wickets across 83 overs, while spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar claimed four wickets in just 52 overs.
“India’s bowling strategy was off the mark. The pacers lacked penetration, whereas spin seemed more threatening,” he said. “That’s an area the team must reassess. Siraj, though, stood out for his heart and effort.”
Questions have also been raised about India’s team selection. They opted for four all-rounders — Jadeja, Sundar, Thakur, and Kamboj — resulting in a lineup lacking both solid batting depth and specialist bowling quality. Without a frontline bowler to support Bumrah and Siraj, and no extra top-order reinforcement, the side appears inadequately balanced.
In Manjrekar’s words, “The team seems to have overlooked a basic truth: multi-utility players might suit T20s, but Test cricket demands specialists.”
India now face an uphill battle. With England poised to set an imposing target, India’s only chance lies in producing a remarkable batting effort in the second innings — and perhaps hoping for rain to intervene. Anything less, and the series outcome may be sealed even before The Oval.