India got off to a solid start in the 4th Test at Manchester, with openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul putting up a strong show as India reached 78/0 at lunch after losing the toss. However, the tide turned in the second session with the early dismissal of KL Rahul. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had brought up his half-century, followed soon after, leaving Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan at the crease. India suffered another blow when captain Shubman Gill fell LBW while attempting to leave a delivery from England skipper Ben Stokes. Gill’s lean patch with the bat continued after scores of 16 and 6 in the 3rd Test. Stokes’ sharp appeal was upheld on-field and remained so after a failed review, with replays confirming the ball was crashing into the off stump. Following his dismissal, a striking statistic came to light — this was the fourth time Gill had been dismissed while trying to leave the ball, including three against pace and one against spin. Only Australia’s Cameron Green has been out in that manner more often in Tests since the captain’s debut.
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It also marked the first time Ben Stokes had dismissed Gill in seven Test innings. With Gill’s early exit, the onus shifted to Sai Sudharsan and Rishabh Pant to guide India to a strong first-innings total .With England’s bowlers exploiting the Old Trafford conditions, India will need their skipper to bounce back strongly in the second innings to silence the critics.
