Shastri questions Gill’s ploy of using Sundar in Manchester Test

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri lashed out at skipper Shubman Gill’s ploy to use off-spinner Washington Sundar after 68 overs of England’s first innings in the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, a move that raised eyebrows, especially after the off-spinner had picked up four wickets in the second innings at Lord’s.

At stumps on Day 3 in Manchester, England were firmly in control, with their lead extending to 186.

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Once Sundar was finally introduced, he struck quickly, removing Ollie Pope and Harry Brook, to further question the delay in his deployment. Shastri didn’t mince words, calling Gill’s tactics a clear misjudgment.

“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? Here, I’ve taken four. I should be like a front-runner, bowling within the first 30, 35 overs. And you’re getting me on after 69. And then he takes the first two wickets,” Shastri said on Sky Sports.

Shastri didn’t stop there. He highlighted a string of tactical errors that he felt handed England the advantage, including the decision to hand debutant Anshul Kamboj the new ball instead of the more experienced Mohammed Siraj.

“So tactically, I thought they were found wanting. I thought 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. Then the bouncer tactic, which they’re 24 hours late. That should have been tried yesterday to see if they could have made further inroads. So tactically a lot was missing,” he added.

Despite the criticism, Shastri believes that Gill will grow into the role with time and support from the team management, citing Virat Kohli’s early days as captain as an example.

“I’ll cite an example of Virat when he took over. He was the other way, as far as Shubman goes. He was extra, ultra-aggressive. Where you had to, at times, from the dressing room, calm him down, especially with field placing. It was a case of as if you wanted five wickets every session of play. It doesn’t happen,” said Shastri.

“Sometimes you’ve got to, you know, respect the conditions and set fields accordingly. And that’s why I think 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,” he added.

Shastri also underlined the importance of senior players like Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah stepping up with leadership on the field, especially when it comes to setting fields and making bowling plans.

“The senior players in the side, they have to start being accountable and be able to set their own fields, have their own ideas. That should come from the bowlers as well. Okay, I want to try this now, captain,” said Shastri.

“What do you think? Rather than the captain going and telling them, if they played 50, 60 Test matches and more, it should be them going and telling the captain, listen, I need to take a wicket and I want to set this kind of field. That’s what Stokes does. He thinks how he’s going to disrupt things and find ways of breaking partnerships,” he added.