Former Indian cricketer and renowned cricket pundit Sanjay Manjrekar has expressed concerns over Shubman Gill’s performance during India’s second innings at Lord’s, blaming emotional responses for his underwhelming display. Manjrekar highlighted that Gill’s inability to handle pressure and external provocation may have contributed to his failure in the crucial match against England.
The incident that drew Manjrekar’s attention occurred on Day 3, when Shubman Gill was involved in a heated exchange with England’s Zak Crawley. Crawley appeared to delay the game to avoid completing his over before stumps, which visibly frustrated Gill.
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The young Indian batter reacted animatedly, signaling his displeasure and surprising the cricket community. Sanjay Manjrekar pointed out that Gill’s reaction was different from the likes of Virat Kohli, who often channels heightened emotions into increased aggression and focus.
On Day 4, Gill faced further challenges when he came out to bat during India’s chase of 193 runs. Under intense pressure from the English bowlers and sledging from the fielders, Gill looked visibly unsettled. His struggles culminated in a dismissive LBW by Brydon Carse for just six runs, and India ultimately lost the match by 22 runs.
Sanjay Manjrekar analyzed Gill’s approach, stating, “The thing with Virat Kohli was that he would get even more fired up and become a better batter if things got nasty. What disappointed me with Shubman Gill, and that is why I was wondering, where is Shubman Gill heading? Because that didn’t have the right effect on him.”
He further explained that Gill’s tentative approach in the second innings was apparent, especially with the influence of the stump mic capturing some of the personal sledging from England players.
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Manjrekar emphasized that Gill’s previous series performance was marked by control and resilience, but the events at Lord’s seemed to derail his focus. Missing easy deliveries and falling prey to LBW in quick succession suggested a mental lapse possibly triggered by the earlier altercation and the mounting pressure.
Sanjay Manjrekar’s critique centers on the emotional aspect impacting Gill’s game at Lord’s, warning that handling pressure and external provocations is crucial for young players aspiring to match the mental toughness of seasoned cricketers.