IND vs ENG | 'Sledging fired up Virat Kohli, but it rattled Shubman Gill': Ex-India cricketer

NEW DELHI: Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has thrown his weight behind India captain Shubman Gill, backing the young leader to bounce back in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester, with India trailing 1-2 in the series. While praising Gill’s leadership, Manjrekar also drew comparisons with former India skipper Virat Kohli, noting that Gill’s aggression differs from Kohli’s.


Gill, known for his calm on-field demeanour, showed a rare flash of anger during the Lord’s Test when England opener Zak Crawley took too long to face a delivery, causing visible frustration in the Indian camp.

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Gill, clearly annoyed by the delay and interruptions, was caught on the stump mic shouting: "Grow some f**** b***s."

Commenting on the incident, Manjrekar said on JioHotstar: “When Gill walked out to bat on Day 4, I expected England to give it back to him. After all, he had lost his temper earlier, and that’s part of the game. What disappointed me, though, was how it seemed to affect Shubman Gill. When something similar happened with Virat Kohli, he would get even more fired up and become a better batter. But with Gill, the effect wasn’t the same. He came out looking tentative."

Manjrekar further explained how the English players’ sledging may have played a role in Gill’s uncertain approach at the crease: "Some of the sledging by English players included personal attacks. This might have been unfamiliar territory for Gill, especially considering that Indian players today often receive a friendly reception from touring sides. But Gill didn’t seem up for the challenge. The way he batted reflected that, and I have no doubt there’s a connection between the sledging and his uncertainty at the crease.”


Despite the criticism, Manjrekar remains optimistic about Gill’s overall progress and the road ahead: “Gill is a young captain, and he has already surpassed expectations, both with the bat and as a leader. The scoreline might be close, but India has won a Test match, and that’s credit to how he has gone about it. This eight-day break comes at a perfect time for him. He has good people around him, and his father, more than anyone, would know what kind of personality Shubman really is, whether he’s a potential Virat Kohli or Dhoni, or somewhere in between."


"I’m guessing somewhere in between. He has to find his own path now, a path that enhances both, his leadership and his batting. And, if there is anything coming in the way of either, he’s got to quickly let go of it. In the first Test, he was leaning heavily on Rishabh Pant and others. In the second, he started asserting himself, and the results followed. Now, after this little setback in the third Test, we might see the best of Shubman Gill, the captain, in Manchester. Hopefully, we’ll also see the best of Shubman Gill, the batter,” Manjrekar added.

India, trailing 1-2 in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, will look to level the series when the fourth Test begins at Old Trafford on July 23.



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