ENG vs IND 2025: ‘Why is he bowling Nitish Kumar Reddy already?’ – Vaughan admits mistake after questioning Gill’s strategy on Day 1 in Lord’s Test

Michael Vaughan admitted that he made a mistake when he criticised Shubman Gill for bringing Nitish Kumar Reddy into the attack as early as the 14th over on Day 1 of the third Test at Lord’s. The former England captain rectified his assessment and said that it was a tactical masterstroke from India’s newly-appointed Test captain.

Reddy dismissed England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett in his first over. However, Vaughan was more impressed by the Hyderabad all-rounder consistently troubling Joe Root throughout the day.

“I would say throughout the day, it was probably Nitish Kumar Reddy that put Joe Root under more pressure than any of the bowlers. It was a masterstroke from Shubman Gill, because I was commentary and I was thinking,’ Why is he bowling Nitish Kumar Reddy already?’ So, that was a really good move, a tactical move,” Vaughan said of Gill on Cricbuzz.

Vaughan opined that Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep looked tired as they had bowled with a lot of effort in the Edgbaston Test, which concluded only four days ago.

“Siraj and Akash Deep, understandably, looked a bit tired. It was only a few days ago where they were charging at Edgbaston, and they are having to do it again,” the former skipper said.

Bazball was not possible on that surface: Vaughan

England’s run rate on Day 1 of the Lord’s Test was just 3.02 as they reached 251/4 in 83 overs. They had ditched their usual ultra-aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach and played watchfully throughout the day. Vaughan said that the pitch wasn’t conducive to Bazball cricket.

“Bazball was not possible on that surface. Impossible to go out and play your strokes, impossible to play the cut, the pull. England realised that because their best player was out in the middle. The message from Root would have been to just bat,” Vaughan said.

Vaughan praised Root, who remained unbeaten on 99. The cricketer-turned-expert mentioned that the pitch was on the slower side, but still, India could have tried a few bouncers to the veteran batter.

“I look at the way India bowled to him, and I think, could they have done anything different (against Root)? The only thing I think they could have tried, and it’s tough on a slow wicket, is maybe a few more bouncers, that is the only thing I can say,” he concluded.