Gill and Stokes Set for Crucial Manchester Test Showdown

As the India-England Test series heads to Manchester, captains Shubman Gill and Ben Stokes are leading from the front. Gill, 25, is new to captaincy, while Stokes, 34, is seasoned but still testing his aggressive methods. Both have shone—Gill with the bat at Edgbaston and Stokes with long spells at Lord’s—each securing wins for their teams. A Manchester victory would validate Stokes’ approach, while a win for India would boost Gill, who has battled player absences and injuries. Rain stalled pre-match practice, leaving contrasting press conferences as the day’s highlight before the decisive Test begins on July 23.