As Sai Sudharsan fell for a first ball duck on Day 4 of the fourth Test at the Old Trafford in Manchester, furious fans were quick to draw parallels between him and current Team India coach Gautam Gambhir’s dismissal for a duck in 2014.
England were bowled out 669 in their first innings to take a 311-run lead over India who had managed 358 in their first innings. India got off to a disastrous start in their second innings when opener Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for a duck against England pacer Chris Woakes on the fourth ball of the innings.
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In walked Sai Sudharsan at No. 3, who had top scored for India in the first innings with a resolute 61. India needed Sudharsan to stay at the wicket and build a partnership with KL Rahul. But that was not to be as Woakes got a delivery to jump a little extra as Sudharsan looked to leave the ball but it took the bottom edge of the bat and flew to second slip for Harry Brook to take the catch.
Sudharsan’s dismissal for a first ball duck got India 2 wickets down without a single run on the board.
Furious fans took to X slamming the dismissal and some even started drawing parallels with Gambhir’s dismissal against James Anderson for a first ball duck.
Sai Sudharsan gave a tribute to Gautam Gambhir.#INDvsENGTest pic.twitter.com/IeNlC7ucgp— Dr.Shrvan bishnoi (@Shrvanbishnoi29) July 26, 2025
Seems like Gautam Gambhir himself coached Sai Sudarshan how to leave the ball outside the off stump.His dismissal today was a replica of Gambhir s masterclass dismissal.#INDvsENG#INDvsENGTestpic.twitter.com/fYYLrZmsOB
— Vinay Kumar Dokania (@VinayDokania) July 26, 2025
TWO IN TWO!Nicked straight to Harry Brook. WHAT A START!
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 26, 2025
That match was the fifth Test of India’s tour to England in 2014 and Gambhir also fell for a first ball duck caught behind by Jos Buttler off Anderson. Then, Gambhir had also tried to leave the ball, but it had taken the bottom edge of the bat much to the delight of England cricketers.
Gautam Gambhir was rubbish as a test playerGautam Gambhir is rubbish as head coach of India
This Rubbish is Indias head coach.
Imagine the 3-0 defeat against NZ is a trailer under this rubbish man whose Batting technique in overseas was worse than any number 11 of any side. pic.twitter.com/8DNj1vPDnY
— Vinay Kumar Dokania (@VinayDokania) November 3, 2024
Sai sudershan Today:pic.twitter.com/K0v9oMuSly— Rathore (@bcci_x) July 26, 2025
India went on to lose that Oval Test by an innings and 244 runs as England won the 5-match series 3-1.
As things stand at the moment, India needs more than a miracle to save the Manchester Test and prevent England from taking an unassailable lead in the series.
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