Shubman Gill not following Gautam Gambhir's orders in England but...

Team India batter Sai Sudharsan showered praise on skipper Shubman Gill after Day 1 (Wednesday, July 23) of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford in Manchester. Sudharsan's remarks hinted that Gill’s captaincy style has more resemblance to Ashish Nehra’s calm approach than Gautam Gambhir’s.

India dropped Karun Nair from the playing XI to recall Sai Sudharsan to bat at No. 3 for the fourth Test in Manchester. Sudharsan made the most of the opportunity, scoring 61 off 151 balls on the opening day. He helped the team reach 264/4 at stumps after being asked to bat first by England skipper Ben Stokes.

Sai Sudharsan Credits Shubman Gill’s Calm Leadership for His Fifty

Speaking to the media after Day 1 of the fourth Test, Sai Sudharsan revealed that Shubman Gill backed him after the first match of the series. Sudharsan added that Gill’s leadership style has remained the same since their time together in the IPL.

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“After first game, Shubi (Shubman Gill) gave me complete backing behind the scenes. He tells everybody clearly. It’s been same Shubi from IPL,” Sudharsan told reporters in the press conference after the day's play on Wednesday.

Sudharsan is playing his second Test in the ongoing series, having made his debut in the opening match at Headingley in Leeds. He managed scores of 0 and 30 in the two innings of his debut Test.

Throughout the Day, the Ball Was Moving - Sai Sudharsan

Sai Sudharsan impressed with his composure on a challenging Old Trafford pitch that offered uneven bounce and seam movement. He stated that the ball was moving throughout the day. Sudharsan also spoke about his dismissal, admitting he wasn’t sure how he edged it down the leg side.

“There was variable bounce, two-paced wicket. Throughout the day, the ball was moving and was doing something off the pitch,” Sudharsan explained.

“I didn’t know how I edged it down the leg. England do it quite often for other batters too. I was quite aware coming into this game,” he said.

“I am not looking at this as pressure but an opportunity to express myself. I wanted to play the situation and do well for the team,” he further said.

Shubman Gill’s Third Consecutive Low Score in the Series

Meanwhile, Shubman Gill struggled again with the bat. He was dismissed for 12 runs off 23 deliveries after being trapped lbw by Ben Stokes. The England skipper bowled a good-length delivery that pitched outside off and nipped back in sharply.

Gill, who had his bat raised, was struck on the knee roll. The on-field umpire had no hesitation in raising his finger. Gill consulted with his batting partner, Sai Sudharsa,n before opting for a review at the last second. However, ball-tracking confirmed the decision, showing three reds.

Notably, this was Gill’s third consecutive low score in the series. He recorded scores of 16 and 6 in the previous Test at Lord's. However, he remains the top run-scorer in the series with 619 runs across seven innings.

Also read: India vs England Weather Report Day 2, Manchester Test 2025