The Ovation Of Gill Received From English Fans While Walking Off Stood Out For Me: Jonathan Trott
The major hurdle for India at the start was always going to be the first 30 minutes. India had to essentially do a factory reset and recapture the mindset and rhythm they displayed while batting yesterday
After the first session on Day 5 of the fourth Test, the discussion on ‘Match Centre Live’ focused on the pivotal morning period and Shubman Gill’s dismissal. Experts Sanjay Manjrekar and Jonathan Trott shared their thoughts on the key moments that shaped India’s batting challenge.
Speaking on ‘Match Centre Live’ after the conclusion of the first session on Day 5 of the fourth Test, JioHotstar expert Sanjay Manjrekar commented on Shubman Gill’s wicket:
“The major hurdle for India at the start was always going to be the first 30 minutes. India had to essentially do a factory reset and recapture the mindset and rhythm they displayed while batting yesterday. That’s never easy. The second new ball was also going to be a challenge—and that’s exactly how things unfolded. They lost KL Rahul early, and once the second new ball was taken, the pressure mounted. Regarding Shubman Gill, once he reached his hundred, the question is—did he relax? But that might be a bit harsh. The second new ball was likely to claim at least one batter, and unfortunately for India, it turned out to be Gill. Ben Stokes bowled a fantastic spell today. He built pressure, and that delivery to Gill was top-class. Still, this was a great innings from a young man under pressure, and he should take a lot of confidence from it.”
JioHotstar expert Jonathan Trott also added his perspective on Gill’s innings, praising the technical improvements and temperament shown by the young batter:
“It was just one of those mistakes—you can forgive that kind of dismissal. Gill was able to adapt to the variable bounce. Whether the ball kept low or bounced extra, he was in control because he got himself into much better positions this innings. In past games, we’ve seen him caught on the crease, hesitant in decision-making, or getting out LBW. But this time, his footwork was sharp, and when your feet are moving well, your balance follows, which allows you to respond more effectively to any unpredictable movement. One thing that stood out for me was the ovation he received walking off—not just from Indian fans, who were obviously there in big numbers, but also from English fans. Yes, they were happy he was dismissed, but they also appreciated the resilience and class he showed, especially coming back from recent struggles. That says a lot about his character.”
JioHotstar expert Stuart Broad reflected on Ben Stokes’ game-changing impact with the ball:
“I don’t think India are playing Ben Stokes the man—they're playing Ben Stokes the bowler, and right now, he’s bowling superbly. He’s not someone they need to change their mindset for, but the fact is, he’s England’s most effective bowler at the moment. Today, he generated both low and high bounce, which makes it extremely difficult for batters to settle. Take KL Rahul’s dismissal for instance—there’s no way you could have played that ball. From that length, with it keeping low, it was virtually unplayable. He’s just in rhythm, bowling outstanding deliveries. And you rarely see a batter walk off for an LBW without even checking—but that’s exactly what happened. It speaks to how fair and convincing the decision was. Stokes has had an incredible impact on this game—five wickets for a hundred, and then a key wicket this morning. He’s one of those players who just rises to big moments, and today was another example.”
Catch Day 1 of the fifth Test of India’s tour of England on July 31, 3:30 PM onwards, live on JioHotstar
