When the BCCI handed over the Test captaincy to 25-year-old Shubman Gill, the decision wasn’t unanimously accepted. Replacing a seasoned campaigner like Rohit Sharma and leading a side in the absence of a stalwart like Virat Kohli was never going to be easy. There were whispers of inexperience, murmurs about temperament. But Gill responded in the best way possible—with the bat.
He began his captaincy stint on a blazing note, smashing three centuries in his first two Tests. Though India lost the opener, they bounced back strongly in the second, with Gill leading from the front. Over 600 runs in two matches made it clear that the new skipper wasn’t just wearing the armband—he was owning it.
However, the third and fourth Tests brought a dip. Gill managed only 16 and 6 at Lord’s, followed by a scratchy 12 in the first innings at Old Trafford. Critics were quick to raise questions again. Had the bubble burst?
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Not quite. Gill roared back in style with a sublime 103 in the second innings at Old Trafford, becoming the first Indian since 1990 to score a Test century at the venue. It was a knock that shut down criticism and reignited India’s charge in the series.
After the match ended in a gripping draw, head coach Gautam Gambhir hit back at the doubters. “No one in the team ever questioned Gill’s ability,” Gambhir asserted. “Those who did don’t understand the game. International cricket takes time. We’ve always believed in him, and his performance proves why.”
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Gautam Gambhir further dismissed any notion of captaincy pressure. “When Gill bats, he bats like a batter—not a captain. That’s his strength,” he said.
India’s fightback was marked by resilience. Gill’s hundred, supported by KL Rahul’s 90, laid the groundwork. Then Ravindra Jadeja (107*) and Washington Sundar (101*) batted through two sessions to save the match. The draw has kept the series alive at 2-1, with all roads now leading to The Oval for a thrilling finale.
