Washington Sundar Shines Amid India's Tactical Confusion
You know, there are days in cricket when everything just seems to fall apart, and Day 3 of the fourth Test at Old Trafford was one of those for India. The sun was shining for England, Joe Root was scoring at will, and India—well, they looked completely drained and directionless. But in the middle of all that chaos, there was a brief flicker of hope—and it came from none other than Washington Sundar.
Now here’s the thing—Washington had been warming up since the morning, ready and waiting. But oddly enough, he was left on the sidelines for 68 overs. That’s nearly two full sessions before Shubman Gill, India’s young captain, finally tossed him the ball. By that time, England had already cut India’s once-huge lead down to just 53 runs. When Washington did get his chance, it was too late to undo the damage—but he still made an impression. A few overs before lunch, and then again after, he bowled with purpose. He dismissed Ollie Pope and Harry Brook—both key wickets—and suddenly, there was at least some energy in India's body language.
Also Read:- Bishop Halts Choir Concert in Dressing Gown Drama
- Arsenal Land Gyokeres – Can Sweden's Star End the Trophy Drought?
So naturally, questions started flying. Why was he brought in so late? Especially after picking up four wickets in the previous Test. Former players like Sanjay Manjrekar and Ravi Shastri weren’t shy about their criticism. Manjrekar wondered aloud whether Gill had made the decision alone, or if coach Gautam Gambhir and the senior players had gone completely silent. Shastri pointed out something crucial—spinners like Sundar need long spells to be effective, and Gill should’ve shown more trust, especially on a pitch like this.
But maybe that’s the crux of it—Gill’s leadership is under the microscope right now. Since taking over the captaincy from legends like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, he’s been walking a tightrope. There’s no doubt he’s been a run machine with the bat—over 600 runs in the series so far—but leadership isn’t just about personal performance. It’s about tactical clarity, timing, and motivating your team when things start to spiral.
What we saw was a team scrambling for answers—Siraj and Bumrah walking on and off the field with injuries, field placements that looked static, and a captain who didn’t seem to have a visible presence. Whether it was a confidence issue or just a lack of experience, India’s strategy looked muddled. And in the middle of all this, Washington Sundar’s late but spirited bowling spell stood out—not just because it worked, but because it left you wondering why it wasn’t tried sooner.
In the end, it wasn’t a total disaster for India—Siraj and Bumrah returned and even got wickets late in the day. But it was one of those days where hindsight hurts, and the decisions—or indecisions—might be remembered for a long time.
Read More:
0 Comments