- July 24, 2025
If you are an Indian cricket fan, chances are you’ve shared that ‘What just happened?! It was a real head-scratcher — Shubman Gill leaving the ball, only to be trapped plumb lbw on Day 1 of the fourth Test at Old Trafford. Fans were left rubbing their eyes in disbelief, wondering what just happened. England was just beginning to claw their way back into the match, it was starting to feel like Gill was going to be the player to settle it down for India, and WHAM! he shoulder-armed to a Ben Stokes delivery, got hit on the pads, and went back for 12. Oh, and he wasted a review on the way back, too.
When Good Judgment Goes Missing
From the first ball, Stokes was not unplayable. Gill’s judgement – normally one of his trusted strengths – was completely wayward. Instead of playing the ball or covering the line, Gill planted his front foot, bat above his shoulders, and left it like it was a throwdown in the nets.
A shocker of a mistake. The ball thudded into his knee roll, and the umpire didn’t waste a second to send him on his way. Gill had a quick word with Sai Sudharsan and reluctantly went for the review. But it was as dead as it gets — plumb as a summer mango.
The shot — or the absence of one—sparked plenty of reactions. Some called it arrogance. Others said it was a lapse in focus. Whatever it was, it left India in a bit of a hole at 140/3 just before Tea. And for a batter who had been carrying the team’s batting mantle all series, this felt like a major letdown.
The Review That Shouldn’t Have Been
Let’s be honest — if you’re leaving a ball and it smacks your pad right in front, you’re gambling big by reviewing. What’s Gill hoping for here — a miracle deflection off an invisible edge? Maybe he thought it pitched outside the line. Maybe he thought it bounced more. Either way, the review just added salt to the wound.
And it wasn’t just about this review. India had only two remaining at the time. In overseas conditions, with unpredictable bounce and swing, those reviews are gold dust. Burning one on a desperate hope? Not ideal. Especially considering how Rishabh Pant and Sai Sudharsan were the last recognised batters left at the crease.
It’s one thing to back yourself, but there’s a thin line between belief and blind optimism. Gill crossed it on Wednesday.
A Dip or Just a Blip?
To be fair to Shubman, he’s had an outstanding series. 619 runs in seven innings before this knock is no joke — that’s elite form by any standard. But the troubling bit is the trend: scores of 16, 6, and now 12 in his last three innings.
Has England figured him out? Maybe. The bowlers are targeting that corridor outside off, testing his judgment ball after ball. And when someone like Stokes — with his crafty angles and reverse swing — is bowling, you can’t afford to switch off, even for a second.
This could just be a blip. Or it could be signs of mental fatigue. After all, the series has been physically and emotionally draining for both teams. But for someone who was being touted as the next big thing — and was living up to it for the most part — these last few innings have raised some eyebrows.
So, what do you reckon? Was it a brain fade, or a trap Stokes had been waiting for? Let us know in the comments below!
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