July 26, 2025

On the third day of the fourth Test match, India toiled in the field for 22 overs, experimenting with various bowling options without success. Among them, Washington Sundar had been kept unused until late in the innings. His opportunity came when England had amassed 368 runs, reducing India's initial advantage of 358 to a mere 53. After lunch, Sundar managed to dismiss key batsmen Ollie Pope and Harry Brook, injecting some energy into the Indian camp, albeit amidst ongoing struggles. India’s bowling strategy faced scrutiny after they inexplicably opted to give the new ball to debutant Anshul Kamboj over established bowler Mohammed Siraj, who later suffered an injury, compounding the team’s woes. Captain Shubman Gill, who took over after the retirements of previous stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, appeared under immense pressure amid a chaotic series that included several injuries and narrow defeats. England had a standout day, with Joe Root poised to make headlines, either by reaching another century or climbing the all-time Test run-scorers list. For India, the day brought multiple low points, underscoring their difficulties. Particularly notable was the confusion caused by injuries: as premier bowler Jasprit Bumrah left the field for a significant duration during an innings, Siraj eventually succumbed to his own injury issues mid-over, leading to disarray and missed strategic opportunities. Gill’s leadership faced criticism as he struggled to visibly engage his team or create pressure during England's innings. While he occasionally adjusted field placements and showed limited vocal encouragement, these actions felt ineffective in motivating a dispirited team. His captaincy lacked the assertiveness needed to address the multiple challenges presented during the match. In contrast, KL Rahul, wearing the captain’s number on his back, seemed to emerge as a leader on the field, displaying more initiative and confidence. Despite these hurdles, both Bumrah and Siraj returned to bowl in the final session, managing to claim wickets, averting what could have spiraled into a full-blown crisis. Nonetheless, the day left India feeling the weight of their struggles while England reveled in their advantage. As Washington Sundar celebrated in his moment of redemption, the hopes for India remained clouded amid incessant woes, indicating a tough road ahead for Gill and his team in the follow-up to this series. The overall performance seemed bleak, and while recovery remained possible, immediate results are critical for their confidence moving forward. For cricket fans, witnessing how the young captain navigates this tumultuous period will be crucial to understanding whether this team can regain its former glory or will continue to falter under the spotlight of international cricket.

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Tags: India cricket, England cricket, Washington sundar, Shubman gill, Joe root, Test match,