Manchester: With England firmly in control of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, criticism has mounted against India head coach Gautam Gambhir for the team’s continued struggles in the red-ball format. At the end of Day 3, India trailed England by 186 runs, staring at the possibility of losing the five-match series, currently down 1-2.
India endured arguably their worst day in the series on Friday, as Joe Root led England’s batting onslaught with a magnificent 150, putting the hosts in a commanding position. Fans and analysts alike voiced their frustration, blaming Gambhir for a perceived decline in India’s Test fortunes.
Many fans took to social media accusing the newly appointed head coach of making disruptive decisions—most notably, allegedly pushing seniors like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma into early retirement. There was also discontent over his team selection choices, with some in-form players left out of the squad.
Experts echoed similar sentiments, pointing out Gambhir’s inability to guide young captain Shubman Gill, despite his individual brilliance in Edgbaston, where he single-handedly clinched a win for India.
England resumed Day 3 at 225/2, with Joe Root (11)* and Ollie Pope (20)* at the crease. The pair stitched together a crucial century stand, building on strong opening knocks from Ben Duckett (94 off 100) and Zak Crawley (84 off 113). By lunch, England had reached 332/2, with both Root and Pope crossing the 50-run mark.
In the second session, Washington Sundar (2/57) provided brief respite, dismissing Pope (71) and Harry Brook (3). However, Root found a solid partner in Ben Stokes, and the duo carried England to 433/4 by tea. Root’s century—his 38th in Tests—took him past Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest run-scorer in Test history.
Meanwhile, India suffered a double blow as both Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj left the field with fitness concerns, limiting their bowling impact. Bumrah managed just one over with the new ball, raising alarm over India’s bowling depth.
In the final session, Ravindra Jadeja finally dismissed Root for a well-made 150 off 248 balls, laced with 14 boundaries. Bumrah and Siraj returned to claim quick wickets of Jamie Smith (9) and Chris Woakes (4), reducing England to 528/7.
But a limping Ben Stokes, who had earlier walked off with a leg niggle, returned to the crease and remained unbeaten on 77, partnering with Liam Dawson (21)* to ensure England closed the day without further loss.
This was India’s first 500-plus total conceded overseas since the 2015 Sydney Test against Australia. Notably, all three subsequent 500+ totals conceded by India in Tests have come against England—537 in Rajkot (2016), 578 in Chennai (2021), and now 528 in Manchester (2025).
As the match slips further from India’s grasp, questions are mounting about Gambhir’s leadership and the overall direction of the Test team under his stewardship. With just two days remaining, India now need a near-miraculous turnaround to avoid defeat and stay alive in the series.
