The third Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Lord’s wasn’t just a high-octane cricket battle — it turned into a psychological warfare as well. Former cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has claimed that England players made personal remarks against India captain Shubman Gill, and that it may have played a role in his tentative batting during the crucial fourth innings.
Stump Mic Revelations: Personal Barbs Directed at Gill
According to Manjrekar, the stump microphone picked up “personal attacks” from England fielders aimed at rattling Gill when he walked in to bat. Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s Match Day, Manjrekar noted:
“We could hear things being said. There were some personal attacks made. This could be new territory for Shubman Gill. He looked tentative and wasn’t up for it.”
This hostile on-field chatter marked a stark contrast to the typically respectful treatment Indian players have received in recent years on foreign soil.
Gill’s Response: Aggression That Didn’t Work?
Gill had previously shown aggression of his own — particularly in a verbal spat with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett on Day 3. But as Manjrekar highlighted, this approach backfired when England returned the favor on Day 4.
Unlike Virat Kohli, whose game was often elevated by such confrontations, Gill seemed out of his element.
“What disappointed me with Shubman Gill was that it didn’t have the right effect on his batting,” Manjrekar added.
Gill’s Second Innings: Tentative and Uncharacteristic
Despite scoring over 590 runs in the series and recording a record 269, Gill’s second-innings knock at Lord’s stood in stark contrast:
| Innings | Balls Faced | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd | 9 | 6 | LBW (Brydon Carse) |
Manjrekar pointed out that Gill — whose control percentage throughout the series had been “brilliant” — suddenly missed 4 out of 9 deliveries, a clear deviation from his prior form.
“Going through Shubman Gill’s defense has been hard work… suddenly, he missed four deliveries in nine balls. That’s not coincidence,” said Manjrekar.
Leadership Under the Microscope
At just 25 years old, Shubman Gill is leading India in a marquee away series. But his leadership style remains undefined — is he the calm, calculating Dhoni, the aggressive Kohli, or the balanced Rohit Sharma?
Gill’s natural demeanor leans toward calmness, but the events at Lord’s saw him step out of character. When things turned hostile, his reaction wasn’t sharp or confident, raising questions about whether the aggressive captaincy approach truly suits him.
Impact on the Match and Series
India’s failure to chase down 193 runs despite lower-order resistance from Jadeja, Bumrah, and Siraj led to a 22-run defeat. England now leads the five-match series 2-1.
The Lord’s Test revealed more than just cricketing tactics — it exposed vulnerabilities in leadership style, mental resilience, and how young captains handle the mind games of elite Test cricket.
India’s Upcoming Challenge: Manchester Test
With the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester set to begin on July 23, the spotlight remains firmly on Gill. He will need to:
- Regain his mental composure
- Recalibrate his approach to sledging
- Decide on the leadership tone for the rest of the series
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