Gautam Gambhir Under Fire as England Dominates India in Fourth Test
India Faces Uphill Battle in Fourth Test
The head coach of Team India, Gautam Gambhir, is receiving backlash following England's commanding performance in the fourth Test at Manchester, where they ended Day 3 with a substantial lead of 186 runs. With India trailing 1-2 in the five-match series, the team now finds itself in a precarious position, needing a near-miraculous effort to equalize.
Disappointment for India as England Takes Charge
Day 3 proved to be particularly disheartening for India, as Joe Root's impressive 150 not only set records but also significantly tilted the match in favor of England. The hosts amassed a total that left India struggling to keep pace.
Criticism Aimed at Gambhir from Fans and Analysts
Social media erupted with criticism, with many fans attributing the team's struggles directly to Gambhir. Critics accused him of pushing seasoned players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma towards early retirements and neglecting in-form domestic talents for the England tour.
Gambhir has truly been a disaster. He is the worst as compared to the 5 coaches preceding him, at the same point in their coaching journey. pic.twitter.com/NPz7sqHXAY
— Sameer (@supersam5) July 25, 2025
Cricket analysts have also raised concerns regarding Gambhir's impact on young captain Shubman Gill, who has displayed moments of brilliance but is currently struggling with consistency. Gill had previously led India to victory at Edgbaston earlier in the series but found himself lacking support in Manchester.
England's Dominance with 500-Plus Totals
India last conceded a total exceeding 500 runs away from home during the 2015 Sydney Test against Australia, where they faced a daunting 572/7 declared, bolstered by centuries from David Warner and Steve Smith.
Since then, only England has surpassed the 500-run mark against India in Test matches:
- 537 at Rajkot (2016): Root, Moeen Ali, and Ben Stokes all contributed centuries.
- 578 at Chennai (2021): Root's double century (218) was the highlight.
- 528 at Manchester (2025): Another classic performance from Root, emphasizing England's dominance.
Recap of Day 3's Events
England began Day 3 at 225/2, with Joe Root (11)* and Ollie Pope (20)* at the crease. The duo formed a century partnership, building on the solid foundation laid by openers Ben Duckett (94 off 100) and Zak Crawley (84 off 113), who aggressively punished the Indian bowlers.
By lunch, England had advanced to 332/2, with both Pope and Root reaching their half-centuries. In the second session, Washington Sundar (2/57) made a breakthrough by dismissing Pope for 71 and Harry Brook cheaply for 3. However, Ben Stokes and Root ensured that England maintained their momentum.
Root achieved his 38th Test century, surpassing Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest run-scorer in Test history, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar. England reached tea at 433/4, with Stokes and Root appearing unassailable.
Compounding India's woes, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj left the field during the session due to fitness issues, with Bumrah managing only one over with the second new ball.
In the final session, Stokes completed his fifty but later exited the field due to discomfort in his left leg. Root was eventually dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja after a stellar 150 off 248 balls, featuring 14 fours.
Bumrah and Siraj returned to claim the wickets of Jamie Smith (9) and Chris Woakes (4), reducing England to 528/7. However, Stokes returned to bat despite his injury, partnering with Liam Dawson (21)* to guide England safely to the end of the day without further losses.
A day that will live long in the memory…
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 25, 2025
Joe Root – history maker 🐐 pic.twitter.com/8st2ZLlX7Q
Concerns Mount Over Leadership and Selection
With only two days left and India trailing significantly, scrutiny is intensifying not only regarding the team's performance on the field but also concerning broader leadership and selection strategies. As the series appears to slip away, Gautam Gambhir's coaching tenure is already under serious examination.