Skipper Gill’s tactics in a spin as England dominate

India’s inexplicable delay in introducing spin meant hosts completely took hold of Day 3 of fourth Test

- Sanjjeev K Samyal

Made to grind in the field for the whole of Day 3, there were lessons aplenty for Indians, none bigger than for Shubman Gill whose captaincy has come under the scanner at Old Trafford.

Still in the nascent stage of his captaincy reign, leading just in his fourth game, this day will give Gill an important lesson — as captain of the Indian team, he would need to show more trust in his spin strength.

In Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, he has a sharp pace attack but in any India bowling unit, there will be good spinners that will have an equally important role to play. Using them effectively is the key.

As India’s think-tank sits to analyse what transpired on Friday, which England batted through and ended at 544/7, Gill will accept he missed a trick by not attacking with Washington Sundar earlier than when he eventually brought him on.

Despite English batters looking largely untroubled against pace in the morning session, it was baffling to see the delay in introducing spin as late as the 62nd over when Ravindra Jadeja was given the ball for the first time on the day.