Former India cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has claimed that India were unfortunate to face difficult batting conditions on Day 1 of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford. Speaking on JioHotstar, Manjrekar said the cloudy and moist weather during India’s innings made batting tougher, compared to the clear skies when England came out to bat.
India scored 358 in their first innings, but the top and middle order struggled against seam movement and short-ball tactics under overcast skies. When England batted, however, the sun came out, easing conditions significantly. Manjrekar said this sudden weather shift played a major role in the match’s balance.
“India were a bit hard done by the weather gods,” said Manjrekar. “It looked like a black-and-white movie during their innings, while the pitch eased up for England.” He added that Jasprit Bumrah, India’s strike bowler, also found it difficult to deliver wicket-taking balls under the changed conditions.
Despite the odds, India managed to dismiss both England openers before the end of Day 2, reducing them to 225/2. Manjrekar said those two breakthroughs were crucial given how well the pitch was playing.
Kamboj Shows Promise on Tough Debut
Manjrekar also praised debutant Anshul Kamboj, who replaced the injured Akash Deep. Though Kamboj had a shaky start—being targeted by Ben Duckett in his first over—he gradually settled in and eventually took the crucial wicket of Duckett, who fell for 94.
“It’s tough on debut, especially when the pitch has nothing for the bowlers,” said Manjrekar. “Duckett targeted Kamboj because he was new, but the youngster came back well.”
The commentator noted that while Kamboj needs to work on his pace and length, his action and control showed promise. “He’s got a simple, repeatable action. But he needs to bowl faster—under 130 kph won’t work at this level,” Manjrekar added.
He also questioned some of India’s bowling decisions, particularly the late introduction of spin. “Perhaps spin should’ve come earlier. Jadeja came in after the 26th over—that might need a rethink,” he said.
With England trailing by just 133 runs and Joe Root still at the crease, India will hope for better bowling conditions on Day 3. Kamboj’s performance will remain a key focus as the Test progresses.
Stay tuned for all the latest Cricket News, Match Predictions, Fantasy Tips, and Cricket updates!
