Gambhir slams Shubman Gill's critics: Those who doubt him don't understand cricket

India Today

4 days ago

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has issued a strong defence of Shubman Gill, criticising those who have questioned the young captain's tactical decisions and temperament during the ongoing Test series in England. Gill, under pressure after a rocky start in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, responded in style with a composed century that helped India salvage a morale-boosting draw and keep the five-match Test series alive.advertisementIn the post-match press conference, Gambhir made it clear that any doubts over Gill's calibre were misplaced. "First of all, there should be no doubt over Shubman Gill's talent," Gambhir said. "Anyone who doubts it only knows how to talk about cricket, not understand it. Some players take time to settle in international cricket. No one in this dressing room is surprised by what Shubman has done. And honestly, even if he hadn't performed, we would still back his talent. Those who truly understand the game have always recognised the ability he possesses - and now, he's living up to it."ENG vs IND, 4th Test Day 5: Highlights
"As for this supposed burden of captaincy - I don't think you see any of that when he walks out to bat. He goes in as a batter, not as a captain," Gambhir added.Gill, who struck his fourth century of the series, became the first Asian batter to score over 700 runs in a single Test series in England. However, his leadership came under scrutiny after England amassed a first-innings lead of 311, with several former players and pundits questioning key tactical choices. Among the decisions criticised was the move to open the bowling with debutant Anshul Kamboj, and the puzzling delay in introducing Washington Sundar despite the English top order scoring freely.Facing a daunting deficit and early second-innings wickets, India appeared headed for defeat. But a spirited resistance turned the tide. KL Rahul's gritty 90 set the tone, before Gill's assured 103 anchored a 188-run third-wicket stand. Ravindra Jadeja (107 not out) and Washington Sundar (101 not out) then batted through the final session, guiding India to safety on the fifth day.Resuming Day 5 on 174 for 2 and still trailing by 137 runs, Gill reached three figures with composure before falling to Jofra Archer just before lunch. From there, Jadeja and Sundar held firm to secure a draw that will be remembered for its character as much as its outcome.England lead the five-match series 2-1, with the final Test at The Oval set to determine the winner of the inaugural Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.- EndsTune InYou May Also Like