Shubman Gill Leadership Impact:
After the retirement of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin, the team for the England tour was announced with Shubman Gill at the helm. This raised questions given his Test cricket average of only 35.
However, after the Tendulkar-Anderson series ended in a 2-2 draw, old statistics became just stories. 'India's Prince' established himself not only as a batsman but also as a formidable captain, showcasing Virat Kohli's intensity, Rohit Sharma's resilience under pressure, and Dhoni-like calmness.
Gill proved himself not only as a batsman for the series but also cemented his position at Team India's iconic No. 4, a spot previously held by legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. It remains Test cricket's greatest batting position for India.
Captain Gill's standout trait was his ability to face challenges head-on, whether it involved staring down the English team or maintaining constant communication with his bowlers.
Read more: Shubman Gill clashed with an English batsman over a gesture.
Take the Oval Test as an example. At one point in England's second innings, they were at 301 with the loss of three wickets, making an English victory seem inevitable. However, Harry Brook fell to Akash Deep at this score. Until this key dismissal, Gill constantly swapped India's bowling attack, unafraid to innovate as needed, keeping his bowlers fresh and effective.
On the final day, August 4, only 35 runs and four wickets separated victory and defeat. Gill made a bold choice to not take the new ball, placing faith in Siraj and Krishna, a trust that paid off, leaving England just six runs shy of the target.
How did Captain Gill rise in the Tendulkar-Anderson series?
In December 2020, Gill debuted in a Test match against Australia in Melbourne alongside Mohammed Siraj. From then until this series with England, he played in 32 Tests, scoring 1893 runs with a 35.05 average, achieving five centuries. Post the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, he reached 2647 runs in 37 matches, averaging 41.35 with nine centuries.
Read also: Gautam Gambhir's viral reaction post India's historic Oval Test win, 'We'll never surrender...'
At 25, Gill's best score before the series was 128, crafted against Australia in 2023. With his new leadership role, his batting power increased significantly, scoring innings of 147, 269, and 161 between June 20 and July 6 across the first three Tests. At Birmingham (Edgbaston), Gill's commanding 269 saw a mere 3.5% in poor shot selections.
Read also: Siraj's tears after India's victory, thanking Kohli, VIDEO
Gill commenced the series with an outstanding 147 in Leeds, followed by scores of 269 and 161 at Birmingham’s Edgbaston. He played a crucial role with a 103-run innings in the Manchester Test, leading India to a draw. Overall, Gill accumulated 754 runs, narrowly missing Sunil Gavaskar's record by 21 runs. In 1971, during his debut series against West Indies, Gavaskar scored 774 runs, the highest by an Indian in a Test series.
Practicing with the Red Ball during IPL:
During the 2025 IPL, it appeared evident to Gill that a significant role awaited him in Test cricket for Team India. As Gujarat Titans' captain, he continued red-ball practice, emphasizing his focus on preparing for England, even while competing in the IPL.
