India is gearing up for the final day at Lord's in the third Test. The spotlight has again turned to captain Shubman Gill.
His numbers in this series have been nothing short of remarkable. But his failures in the Lord's Test, scoring 22 runs across the two innings, have opened up questions on how he responds to pressure.
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Former cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar is leading that discussion. He weighed in on Gill's temperament at the crease, wondering if he performs at his best when fueled by anger or calmness.
With the five-match series at 1-1 and the Lord's Test on a knife's edge, every decision and dismissal is being scrutinized for clues to India's long-term leadership future.
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Sanjay Manjrekar questions Shubman Gill's response to sledging
In a post on X, Sanjay Manjrekar pointed out how Gill looked "tentative" after facing intense sledging from the England fielders, especially following his fiery end to Day 3.
Manjrekar drew comparisons for Gill with two Indian greats MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, writing:
"Gill, suddenly looking tentative last evening, had a lot to do with the hostility he got at the crease from England. Virat performed better, the angrier he got. Dhoni is the exact opposite. Gill must decide what gets the best out of him as a batter - calmness or anger."
The remark from Manjrekar presents a challenge for Gill as captain: figuring out what emotional space helps him thrive under pressure. Virat Kohli used aggression to fuel his performances while MS Dhoni built his legacy on calmness.
Despite the hiccup at Lord's, Gill's form in the series has been historic. He remains the top run-scorer with 607 runs in three matches at an average of over 100.
India's batting is still finding its feet after the exits of Kohli and Rohit Sharma. They have leaned heavily on Gill and vice-captain Rishabh Pant in the series so far.
The pair have scored over 1000 runs between them this series and with 135 runs needed on Day 5, all eyes will now shift to Pant and Rahul when they take the crease in the chase.
IND vs. ENG 3rd Test: Betting odds
India are the current favourites to win the third Test at Lord's ahead of Day 5's play according to Dafabet's odds.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| India | 1.52 |
| England | 2.48 |