Former England captain Nasser Hussain has sharply criticised India's tactical decisions on Day 3 of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, particularly Shubman Gill's delay in bringing Washington Sundar into the attack.
India introduced Sundar only in the 69th over, with England cruising at 305/2. Despite a wicketless first session, Sundar struck quickly after lunch, removing Ollie Pope for 71 and then Harry Brook for 3, offering India a glimpse of fightback on a day otherwise dominated by the hosts.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!In his column for the Daily Mail, Hussain expressed disbelief at the delay: “It was astonishing. You could tell he was full of confidence by the way he spoke so boldly about winning at Lord's, after taking four wickets, and I haven't seen a spin bowler in England get such beautiful drift, even against the wind.”
Hussain referenced Sundar's 4/22 in the second innings at Lord's, and stressed that he should have been used far earlier: “They completely overlooked bowling Washington Sundar… not turning to him until the 69th over when England were 305 for two. He made an impact the moment he was introduced… leaving you wondering: where's he been?”
Hussain also questioned India's bowling approach to Joe Root, who scored a majestic 150 to help England reach 544/7 at stumps, with a commanding 186-run lead.
“The way India bowled to Joe Root was baffling too. On the quickest, bounciest pitch in the country historically, he received just two bouncers up until lunch on day three.”
He noted that Root now intercepts the ball 27 centimetres closer to the bowler than he did in 2018, and India should have targeted him with short balls, forcing him on the back foot.
With Root now second on the all-time Test run-scorers list, behind only Sachin Tendulkar, and England firmly in control, India's decisions — particularly Gill's Sundar snub — are coming under increasing scrutiny.
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