Manchester, England — Former India cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar weighed in on the fourth Test between India and England at Old Trafford, claiming that India suffered due to unfavourable weather conditions. He also praised debutant Anshul Kamboj for showing resilience and “clear signs of potential” in tough bowling conditions.
India Suffered Under Cloudy Skies, England Got the Sunshine
On Day 1 of the fourth Test, India battled harsh conditions in overcast Manchester. The gloomy weather helped England’s seamers exploit movement, making run-scoring difficult for the Indian batters. Despite the conditions, India posted a respectable total of 358 runs, though several batters fell victim to swing and short-ball tactics.
However, when England came out to bat, the skies cleared. Sunlight returned, and the pitch flattened. Speaking on JioHotstar, Manjrekar commented:
“India were a bit hard done by the weather gods. Day 1 looked like a black-and-white movie with dark grey clouds and moisture. Day 2 was a completely different match.”
Even Jasprit Bumrah, known for his menace with the new ball, found little assistance from the pitch. Manjrekar added:
“India will be glad they got those two wickets when they did. England might post a big total now.”
Debutant Anshul Kamboj Shows Grit on Unforgiving Turf
With Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, and Akash Deep sidelined due to injury, India handed a surprise debut to Anshul Kamboj, who was flown into Manchester as emergency reinforcement.
Partnering Bumrah with the new ball, Kamboj struggled initially. Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley launched an aggressive assault, stitching a 166-run opening stand. Duckett in particular targeted the newcomer, scoring freely and unsettling the debutant.
Manjrekar sympathized with the pacer:
“It’s tough for someone debuting in these conditions. Duckett knew Kamboj was new and went after him. Even Bumrah didn’t look threatening.”
However, Kamboj bounced back and dismissed Duckett for 94, inducing an edge caught by wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel.
“Signs of Potential” – Manjrekar on Kamboj
Despite a rocky start, Kamboj’s effort drew praise from Manjrekar:
“I’m very happy for Kamboj — there are clear signs that he has potential. He has a simple, repeatable action.”
However, the former cricketer did highlight areas of improvement:
“He can’t bowl back of a length at under 130 kph. That’s something to work on. But conditions changed so dramatically, even Jadeja had to wait until the 26th over.”
India’s Bowling Dilemma and Tactical Misses
While Kamboj found some rhythm later, India’s bowlers overall lacked control. Bumrah couldn’t make breakthroughs, Mohammed Siraj looked tired, and Shardul Thakur, despite a few good balls, remained expensive.
Manjrekar criticized the delayed use of spin:
“Perhaps spin should’ve come earlier. Jadeja came in too late, and Thakur leaks runs—it’s always a risk.”
With England gaining momentum and the pitch easing out, the match hangs in balance. India’s bowling unit, including debutant Kamboj, will need to dig deep in the coming sessions. But as Manjrekar noted, if Kamboj sharpens his game and adapts quickly, he could be a name to watch in India’s fast-bowling future.
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