Shubman Gill seeks revival amid injury crisis as India gear up for Manchester Test

Manchester: As India prepare for a must-win fourth Test at Old Trafford, skipper Shubman Gill will be hoping to inspire a turnaround not just in results, but in belief, after his team’s narrow defeat at Lord’s left them trailing 1-2 in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series.

Despite dominating large parts of the third Test, India fell short by 22 runs in a tense finish — a loss that stung both for its closeness and its consequences. Now, as they regroup in Manchester, Gill leads a squad grappling with injuries and mounting pressure.

The latest blows came with Nitish Kumar Reddy (knee) and Arshdeep Singh (thumb) ruled out of the fourth Test. The team management has called up Haryana pacer Anshul Kamboj, who impressed in India A fixtures and domestic tournaments, including the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Emerging Asia Cup. Adding to the uncertainty is Akash Deep, nursing a groin niggle after walking off during the Lord’s Test, while Rishabh Pant continues to recover from a finger injury.

Even Jasprit Bumrah, who was instrumental with a seven-wicket haul at Lord’s, is being closely monitored due to workload concerns, although the extended eight-day break between Tests has raised hopes of his return.

Gill, 25, has shown glimpses of maturity as captain in his debut series, with many praising his calm approach and aggressive intent. Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes the setback at Lord’s could be the catalyst for a defining performance from the young skipper.

“Gill is a young captain and he’s already surpassed expectations, both with the bat and as a leader,” Manjrekar said on JioHotstar. “In the first Test, he leaned on Rishabh Pant. In the second, he began asserting himself. Now, after this little setback, we might see the best of Shubman Gill the captain — and, hopefully, the batter as well.”

The team’s bonding off the field may help ease some of the pressure. A visit to the Manchester United training facility at Carrington brought moments of levity and inspiration. Gill and his teammates interacted with stars like Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, and Casemiro, exchanging jerseys and stories.

“To meet top athletes from another sport and understand their mindset is very inspiring,” Gill said. “Bruno told me, ‘There is pressure, but once you step onto the field, you focus on enjoying the sport you love.’ That resonated with me.”

Head coach Gautam Gambhir, himself under scrutiny after eight losses in India’s last 11 Tests, also reflected on the similarities between football and cricket leadership.

“It’s about players adapting to what the team needs, rather than the team adapting to an individual. That’s the culture we want to build,” Gambhir said, after speaking with Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, whose team has also struggled in recent months.

India have not played a Test at Old Trafford since 2014, when they were bowled out for 161 and 161 to lose by an innings and 54 runs. The venue has historically been a tough hunting ground — in nine Tests, India have never won, with five draws and four defeats.

Former England spinner Monty Panesar believes India still have a good shot if they execute well. “The pitch will have something for everyone — pace, bounce, spin — but it will punish bad bowling and loose shots,” Panesar said. “India must apply themselves. If they do that, they have a very good chance of winning.”

Panesar, who took 10 wickets in a Test at the venue in 2007, emphasised mindset.

“Don’t think of the occasion. Focus on your process. The bigger the stage, the more important it is to reduce the noise.”

For India, the fourth Test represents more than a chance to level the series — it’s a chance to test depth, character, and the captain’s growing stature. With a patched-up squad and the hosts riding high, it’s arguably the most defining match of Gill’s young leadership journey.

But if the skipper takes a cue from his football counterparts — and if the bowlers step up once again — India may yet script a comeback worthy of the Theatre of Dreams.

— With inputs from agencies