Broad questions Gill's decision to hold Sundar back as analysis on off-spinner turns prophetic: ‘Takes momentum away'

England pace legend Stuart Broad was among those wondering why off-spinner Washington Sundar wasn’t being utilised by India captain Shubman Gill in the fourth Test in Manchester . Especially after the all-rounder’s four-wicket-haul (4/22) at Lord’s had helped India bundle England out for 192.

England, after all, were off to a strong start in the form of a 166-run opening stand between Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett , and had cruised to 332/2 at lunch on Day 3 after bundling India out for 358. Broad couldn’t help but notice the drift that Sundar was generating after he was introduced into the attack for the first time shortly before lunch.

“All around Old Trafford, everybody had been saying, ‘Where is Washington Sundar, why are we not seeing him?’ They were 300/2 and we hadn’t seen the off-spinner, he got four wickets in the first innings at Lord’s,” Broad said on JioHotstar during the lunch interval.

“He came for three overs pre-lunch and you saw he got the drift against right-handers, looked like outside edge came in the game. I was really surprised, it was a mistake by Shubman Gill to not bring (him) in the game," he added.

Sundar ends up making instant impact at Old Trafford

Broad’s observation proved to be spot on as Sundar’s drift outside the off stumps resulted in two quick wickets after lunch. Ollie Pope departed for 71 after nicking the ball to KL Rahul at slip while Harry Brook was stumped on 3 shortly after, getting caught well outside the crease after charing down the track.

England, as a result, were reduced to 349/4, and even though they appeared set to eclipse India’s first innings total, the twin-strike gave the visitors an opportunity to limit England’s lead to 100 or less.

Broad, however, felt 68 overs was too long for a team to introduce a bowler with a four-fer in his previous outing, adding that such a delay can dent a bowler’s rhythm and confidence.

“Your confidence is high when you’ve got four wickets, then you wait for 60 overs to get introduced to the bowling attack, it just takes the momentum away from you personally. I don’t think they should’ve delayed his introduction as much as they did,” he added.