Old Trafford Test: Manjrekar Lauds Rahul-Gill's Partnership

Speaking on ‘Match Centre Live’ JioHotstar expert Sanjay Manjrekar lauded Shubman Gill and KL Rahul for their temperament and adaptability under pressure:

“Let’s not forget — these are IPL stars, T20 batters. On any given day, if they had to hit three sixes off someone like Liam Dawson, both of them have the ability to do it. But to curb that instinct and do the exact opposite — to dig deep and bat with such restraint — is what I’ve admired throughout this series. I did wonder whether they had the mental reserve for it, especially KL Rahul, who has scored runs in virtually every innings. And yet, he’s still been able to find that resolve to just bat for time. It’s been incredible. Whatever the result on Day 5, hats off to the approach these young Indian batters have shown. Shubman Gill, for example, his strike rate was 67 before tea and dropped to 29 post-tea. That tells a great story. Regardless of the outcome, this is something India should be really proud of.”

JioHotstar expert Jonathan Trott highlighted the physical and mental endurance shown by Shubman Gill after a taxing day in the field:

“That’s where fitness — both physical and mental — becomes crucial, not just in T20s but especially in Test cricket. Gill scored around 50 before tea and then just 28–29 in the session after — that shows serious mental strength. He has the ability to score quickly when needed, but more importantly, he has the mindset to bat for time and play the situation. When he came out in the second innings — after the chaos of that first over — we saw Shubman Gill, the batter. Maybe that moment helped clear his head. He realised he had to bat time and focus solely on getting his country, his team, into a position to save this game.”

Manjrekar commended on KL Rahul’s consistency and maturity, crediting him for anchoring India through pressure situations throughout the series:

“People often ask whether KL Rahul matured after the exit of a few senior batters — maybe he was already mature, and was just taking on too much responsibility. What we’re seeing now is consistency. It may have taken him slightly longer than expected, but he now knows how to carry his form from one innings to the next. His temperament is such that he naturally shoulders a lot of the load. You saw that— when India lost two early wickets, KL Rahul was defending everything that came his way. Shubman Gill, on the other hand, had a slightly different approach, and eventually that tempo caught up with KL. Against this kind of bowling attack, Rahul’s defensive technique stands out. These pitches have been good for batting, and KL himself acknowledged this as the best surface yet. But he’s shown the mental stamina to keep going. Many of KL’s innings have come while trying to save the game — and that makes the number of balls he’s faced even more significant.”

Trott weighed in on Ben Stokes’ absence from the bowling attack on Day 4:

“I’m not sure Ben Stokes is the kind of character who lets a partnership build without intervening. If it were up to him, I believe he’d have grabbed the ball much earlier— just to see how he felt and how his body responded to a few overs. We all know how valuable he is to this England side. He’s not the type to step back or wait. Stokes is a 'today, right now' kind of cricketer — someone who wants to change the game in the moment to give his team the best chance moving forward. So yes, it’s possible he’s being wrapped in cotton wool, maybe on medical advice not to bowl. But honestly, I’d be surprised if he bowled — because if he could, we’d have already seen him in action today.”

Manjrekar outlined the key moments to watch out for as India head into a tense Day 5 at Old Trafford:

“There are two crucial phases today. The first is the opening 30 minutes of the day — after an overnight break, even set batters need to regroup and get back into rhythm. Both KL Rahul and Shubman Gill are capable of doing that, but it will still be a test. The second big moment is when the second new ball becomes available after 17 overs. That will be a significant challenge. I still believe this partnership has to do the job for India. Beyond this pair, I wouldn’t be too hopeful.”