Virat Kohli's brother rips apart Gautam Gambhir-led team India

Vikas Kohli, brother of former India Test captain Virat Kohli, took a dig at the Men in Blue’s underwhelming bowling performance during the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. His remark came after India allowed England to score 669 runs in their first innings at Old Trafford in Manchester.

England scored 669 in their first innings on Day 4 (Saturday, July 26), putting India under pressure. In response, India managed to reach 174/2 by stumps, still trailing by 137 runs. This is the first time India conceded over 600 runs since 2014. Team India last conceded more than 600 runs to New Zealand.

Virat Kohli's Brother Criticizes India's Bowling Display in the Fourth Test

Vikas Kohli, Virat Kohli's brother, criticized the current Indian Test side’s bowling performance. Virat Kohli's brother hinted at a decline in the team’s ability to consistently take 20 wickets in a match, something that was a hallmark during Virat’s leadership.

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"Not long ago, we had a Test team where our bowlers used to take 20 wickets," he said.

India's strategy of picking all-rounders over frontline bowlers has come under scrutiny once again. They managed to recover in Birmingham following a defeat in Leeds, but their strategy was questioned after a 22-run loss at Lord’s.

Jasprit Bumrah Endures Most Expensive Spell of Test Career in Manchester

India conceded a 311-run first innings lead to England. Jasprit Bumrah had a rare expensive outing, conceding over 100 runs in an innings for the first time in his Test career. Ravindra Jadeja picked up four wickets for 143 runs, while Washington Sundar chipped in with 2/107.

Mohammed Siraj picked up just one wicket for 140 runs, and Shardul Thakur remained wicketless while conceding 55 in 11 overs. Debutant Anshul Kamboj struggled to even reach 130 kph.

India bowled 157.1 overs in total, with Thakur and Kamboj delivering just 29 between them. The lack of penetration, especially under Gautam Gambhir’s coaching tenure, reignited concerns about India’s ability to consistently take 20 wickets in a Test.

India persists with an All-Rounder-Heavy Line-Up Under Gambhir's Leadership

Gautam Gambhir has focused on strengthening the batting order by fielding multiple all-rounders. Notably, this is in contrast to Virat Kohli’s tenure, where he prioritized playing five proper bowlers, even sacrificing a specialist batter.

Kohli’s approach paid off, especially in overseas conditions, leading India to series wins in Australia and strong performances in England. With 40 wins from 68 Tests, he is India’s most successful Test captain.

Critics have also questioned the exclusion of wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who has proven his match-winning ability across formats. Former England captain Michael Vaughan stated that Kuldeep could have made a difference in Manchester, where the pitch favored spinners more than in earlier matches.

India’s extended batting lineup also hasn’t delivered consistent results. Their lower order has repeatedly collapsed, including in Manchester, where the last four wickets added just 21 runs.

Also read: Watch: Ravindra Jadeja loses cool at Washington Sundar on the field