Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir has firmly defended the team’s decision to reject England captain Ben Stokes’ proposal for a draw during Day 5 of the fourth Test at Old Trafford. With Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar on the brink of individual milestones, Gambhir said the players deserved the chance to complete their centuries.

On the final day, England’s Stokes extended a handshake offer with 15 overs remaining, hinting at drawing the match. However, India, driven by a remarkable batting comeback, chose to continue as Jadeja was batting on 90 and Sundar on 85. Both players eventually scored unbeaten centuries, helping India finish at 425/4, erasing the massive 311-run deficit.

“Our boys earned those tons,” says Gambhir

In a strong post-match statement, Gambhir questioned the timing and motive behind England’s draw proposal, stating:

“If someone’s batting on 90 and another on 85, don’t they deserve their centuries? Would England have walked off if their own players were close to milestones? No. Our boys weathered the storm. They earned those tons. We’re not here to please anyone.”

The response came after criticism over India’s decision to continue the match despite the match drifting toward a draw. Gambhir maintained that personal achievements also matter, especially when earned under pressure.

Shubman Gill lauds Jadeja and Sundar’s courage

Indian batter Shubman Gill, who also scored a century (103), praised the temperament and skill shown by the team’s middle order. Backing the call to decline the draw, he said:

“Definitely it was up to the boys, but we thought they batted brilliantly. Both of them were in their 90s, so we thought they deserved a century.”

India had crumbled to 0/2 early in their second innings, but a disciplined performance led by Gill, KL Rahul (90), Jadeja (107*), and Washington Sundar (101*) ensured a respectable end to the Test.

Gill further elaborated on the team’s mindset under testing conditions, saying the goal was to “play ball by ball” on a tricky Day 5 pitch and stretch the game deep.

India’s captaincy on Day 3 of the fourth Test against England came under sharp criticism as former head coach Ravi Shastri strongly reacted to the team’s tactical missteps. Speaking during the broadcast, Shastri did not hold back in pointing fingers at Shubman Gill for poor field and bowling strategies that allowed England to dominate proceedings at Manchester.

Missed opportunities and delayed tactics

England ended Day 3 with a mammoth score of 544/7 in their first innings, establishing a commanding 186-run lead. Much of this dominance, according to Shastri, was due to India’s delay in utilizing key bowling options. The most glaring issue, as pointed out by the former coach, was the late introduction of Washington Sundar, who had impressed in the previous match.

“He took four wickets in the last game. Then you bring that bloke after 67, 69 overs. I mean, what does it tell that player?” Shastri questioned, highlighting how Sundar’s delayed entry into the attack deprived India of crucial breakthroughs earlier in the innings. Sundar eventually managed to dismiss Ollie Pope and Harry Brook, providing brief relief for India.

Questionable debutant handling

Shastri also raised eyebrows over Gill’s decision to hand the new ball to debutant Anshul Kamboj instead of experienced pacer Mohammed Siraj. According to Shastri, this move allowed England’s batters to settle in comfortably. “Siraj should have taken the new ball yesterday. Instead of giving it to Kamboj, who’s new, playing his first Test match. That let the pressure off England,” he said.

He also criticised the delayed use of the bouncer tactic, stating, “They’re 24 hours late. That should have been tried yesterday to see if they could have made further inroads.”

Need for leadership support and senior responsibility

Despite the harsh feedback, Shastri showed optimism about Gill’s future as a captain. Drawing parallels with Virat Kohli’s early days as skipper, he emphasized the importance of balance and learning with time. He urged the Indian team management, especially coach Gautam Gambhir and senior players, to guide Gill through his initial phase of leadership.

“The team management becomes now crucial in helping someone like Shubman Gill over the first year and a half. I think that is the key,” Shastri noted.

Furthermore, he called upon senior players to show accountability and take more initiative on the field. “They should be able to set their own fields, have their own ideas… If they’ve played 50, 60 Tests and more, it should be them going and telling the captain what they want,” he said, drawing a contrast with England’s proactive skipper Ben Stokes.

Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant’s spirited play in the ongoing 4th Test against England was cut short at a batting score of 37. On Day 1 in Manchester, Pant, known for his high pain threshold and unorthodox approach, was forced to leave the field hurt after an inside-edge off Chris Woakes’ yorker struck his right boot. The immediate and alarming swelling that appeared upon removing his shoe underscored the severity of the impact, prompting the medical team to assist him off the field in a golf cart.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri said Pant’s visible grimace was a clear indicator of a serious injury. Shastri added, Pant’s high tolerance for pain signals his grimace as an indication of a severe injury, which will worsen overnight. He hopes the injury isn’t a fracture.

Adding to the apprehension, Australia’s cricketing legend Ricky Ponting, who has worked closely with Pant at Delhi Capitals, voiced his suspicions of a metatarsal injury. Ponting, having experienced a similar injury himself, highlighted the immediate swelling, and Pant’s inability to bear weight did not bode well for India. Pointing added, if the injury is indeed a fracture, then Pant will be out for the whole series, emphasising the fragility of metatarsal bones. He also highlighted the potential void Pant’s aggressive batting could leave in the Indian line-up, particularly his ability to seize momentum. He asked the Indian fans to keep their fingers crossed and hope for the best.

England’s Michael Atherton said that if Pant has to retire for the remainder of the series, it would be a massive blow to India. His absence would alter the dynamics of the match, turning the score from 264 for four to 264 for five with a new ball due, potentially exposing India’s lower order. There’s an uncertainty which we are not aware of, but the injury looked serious, as players don’t get carted off otherwise, he added.