Team India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has passionately defended Test captain Shubman Gill. He criticized Gill’s detractors who questioned his leadership and mental strength. Shubman Gill struck a memorable century in the second innings against England in the Manchester Test, helping India draw the match. Following Gill, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar also scored centuries, ensuring the match concluded without a win for either side.
At the post-match press conference, Gautam Gambhir stated, 'There's no room for doubting Shubman Gill's talent. Those who do simply talk without understanding cricket. Some players take time to settle in international cricket. No one in the dressing room is surprised by Gill's performance.'
Gambhir continued, 'Even if he hadn't scored a century, we would still support him. Those who truly understand cricket have recognized his abilities long ago, and now he’s just proving it.' Gautam Gambhir praised Shubman Gill as a batsman, emphasizing he approaches the crease as a batsman rather than a captain.
No burden of captaincy visible: Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir added, 'When Shubman Gill comes out to bat, he does so without the burden of captaincy. He steps onto the field as a batsman, not as a captain.' Shubman Gill has already struck several centuries in the ongoing Test series. He became the first Asian batsman to score over 700 runs in a single Test series in England.
Why was Shubman Gill criticized?
Criticism arose when England secured a 311-run lead in the first innings of the Manchester Test. Questions were raised about Shubman Gill’s decisions, such as handing the new ball to debutant Anshul Kamboj instead of Mohammed Siraj and bringing Washington Sundar into the attack only after 68 overs, by which time England's top order had excelled.
With the Manchester Test ending in a draw, England continues to lead the five-match Test series 2-1. The final decisive Test will be played at The Oval in London starting July 31. For India to level the series at 2-2, they must claim victory; otherwise, England will secure the series.
