![Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma [Source: @Jay_Cricket12, @49off51/x.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1753342089871_GillRohitleavebrainfade.jpg?type=mq)
Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma [Source: @Jay_Cricket12, @49off51/x.com]
There are dismissals and then there are dismissals that leave you scratching your head, wondering what just happened. Day 1 of the fourth ENG vs IND Test at Old Trafford gave us one of those.
Shubman Gill Suffered A Brainfade Dismissal In Manchester
Indian skipper, Shubman Gill walked in with the scoreboard looking steady and the opposition looking flat. But what followed left fans facepalming and England celebrating.
India were cruising through the first session thanks to a gritty partnership between openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul. They looked in control, they weathered the early storm and just when it seemed like India might set the tone for the match, things started slipping post-lunch. Jaiswal fell for a composed 58 and in walked captain Gill, expected to carry the baton forward.
It was the 50th over. Ben Stokes came on, fired up as ever, ball in hand, crowd buzzing. First ball of the over. An in-angler that nipped back in sharply which Gill left and the ball on the knee roll in what you can call a brainfade moment.
The appeal came roaring in, the umpire took his time, and then up went the dreaded finger. Gill stood frozen, reviewed it immediately, maybe out of habit, maybe out of hope. But the replays crushed that hope real quick. Ball-tracking showed three reds. Plum. Gone. Out for 12 off 23 balls. A wicket out of nowhere.
Deja Vu From Rohit Sharma’s Dismissal In 2013
Shubman Gill’s wicket brought back shades of Rohit Sharma’s golden duck back in 2013, the one where Dale Steyn cleaned him up at Kingsmead, Durban. After the first Test ended in a nail-biting draw at the Wanderers, all eyes were on this match.
And when Murali Vijay got out on 97 in India’s first innings, the stage was set for Rohit Sharma. The scoreboard read 199/3. Rohit looked composed as he took guard. Dale Steyn, meanwhile, was steaming in. And Rohit, fresh off a promising start to his Test career, was about to face a reality check.
First ball. Dale Steyn comes charging in and lets one rip. The ball pitches on a length, just outside off. Rohit, trusting the bounce and the line, decided to leave it. Big mistake. The ball jagged in, late and lethal. And before Rohit could even think about moving his bat back down, it cannoned into the top of middle stump. Clean. Clinical. Brutal.
The stump was knocked out of the ground, and the Durban crowd went up in unison. Rohit stood frozen, almost disbelieving what had just happened. India ended that innings with 334 on the board. South Africa responded in style, racking up 500 thanks to a Jacques Kallis century in what would be his final Test.
The second innings saw India crumble under pressure, managing just 223 with Rohit getting trapped LBW for 25 by Vernon Philander. South Africa chased down the 58-run target without breaking a sweat, sealing the match by 10 wickets and the series 1-0.
Same Story, Different Year?
Rohit’s dismissal in 2013 ended up being a turning point. India lost that game and the series. The similarities aren’t lost on fans: a poor leave, an in-swinger, a big moment lost. Whether history repeats itself or not will depend on how India bounce back from here.
But for now, Shubman Gill’s brainfade at No. 4 is the talking point of Day 1, a moment of indecision that might just have opened the door for England.
