Shubman Gill 2.0: How Edgbaston Test marked the rise of a potential India great

India Today

a day ago

After Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket, Indian cricket faced the colossal task of selecting a new captain. Jasprit Bumrah opted out of the captaincy race, prompting India to make a bold decision by naming Shubman Gill as the new skipper. The move raised eyebrows, especially with a challenging tour of England on the horizon.Test captaincy brings a unique kind of pressure, and poor results often invite intense scrutiny. Gill was under pressure to prove himself—particularly because his record in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) had been underwhelming.advertisementBirmingham Test Highlights | Full Scorecard
In 11 Tests, Gill averaged just 25.70, scoring only 514 runs with a lone half-century. Neither experience nor past performance seemed to support his case. But after the first two Tests, Gill has silenced many of his critics-at least for now. The tentative version of Gill appears to be gone, replaced by a confident and composed leader.SHUBMAN GILL RISES ABOVE ODDSIndia suffered a five-wicket loss in the Leeds Test after their bowlers—barring Jasprit Bumrah—failed to meet expectations. Yet, despite the defeat, the match offered a glimpse of what was to come from Shubman Gill. His composed 147-run knock stood out, signaling his readiness to take responsibility. He seemed to come out of his shell, allowing his bat to do the talking.The Edgbaston Test, however, truly showcased the bright future of Indian cricket under Gill's leadership. Not only did India break the Birmingham curse with a historic 336-run win, but it also brought out the best in Gill-both as a captain and a batter. Records that once seemed untouchable were rewritten.Gill alone amassed a staggering 430 runs in the match, dismantling the English attack with ease and earning widespread praise from the cricketing fraternity. Jonathan Trott, a former England cricketer, even called him a "carbon copy of Virat Kohli," such was his dominance and flair.Looking ahead, this match will be remembered as the moment Gill's captaincy truly took flight. It was under his leadership that India became the first Asian team in 63 years to win a Test in Birmingham. And it was Gill who inspired the turnaround after the heavy Headingley defeat.'NO NEED TO PANIC'Gill and India could easily have hit the panic button after the crushing loss in Leeds. The disappointment of failing to defend 371-despite having England on the ropes for four out of five days-could have derailed the team's momentum.But instead of retreating into a shell or allowing England to tighten their grip, India responded with purpose and intensity. Yes, dropped catches and batting collapses had cost them dearly in Leeds, but at Edgbaston, India were far more clinical-and the results showed. From sharper fielding to composed batting and disciplined bowling, India looked like a side determined to make a statement."The most important thing-even in that last match after the loss-was that we were very close. If we had grabbed even half of the chances we got, the situation and condition of that match could've been very different," Gill told the broadcasters.advertisement"So, there was no need to panic. The key is to stay sharp. If we keep scoring 400-450 runs consistently, our bowlers will keep bringing us back into the game," Gill added.Gill's job on the England tour is far from done-in fact, it's not even halfway through. A loss in the upcoming Lord's Test could leave India in a precarious position, potentially putting the series out of reach. On the other hand, a win would place them on the brink of a historic series victory.Gill has launched his captaincy career in style with the triumph in Birmingham, but the real test lies in consistency. India have fond memories at Lord's, with memorable wins in 2014 and 2021. Now, it's Gill's turn to carve out his own legacy at the iconic venue.- EndsTune In