Shubman Gill : Baptism By Headingley

Shubman Gill Perfectly Fit The Bill

When Shubman Gill was made the captain of the Indian Test Team, I was not very sure of the selection. The idea was not misplaced, though, as the selectors and the BCCI were looking for stability and a captain who could be at the helm for long. Shubman was fitting the bill. Just 25 years old, a great talent to boot, and with a fair share of test experience, Shubman was just the ideal fit ( remember how Graeme Smith was made captain of South Africa at 22 years with an unproven record at the international level).

Shubman’s Tough Test

The tour to England was going to be Shubman’s tough test, and that too at Headingley, a ground where England had not lost for 7 years and where Ben Stokes in 2019 guided England to one of their greatest victories over Australia,  referred to as the Leeds Miracle.

A Fine Knock As Captain

Shubman Slid Into Captaincy Smoothly

He was fully engrossed in his role, keeping a keen eye on the proceedings and motivating the boys to keep going. He was alert and on his toes like a captain settled in his role. He did not put a foot wrong, I guess, in the first innings. He can’t be blamed for dropped catches and some sloppy bowling at times from his troops.

He Was In Control But Just A Minor Blip In The End

Shubman Gill, though, failed in the second innings with the bat he did his best in the field. Just that Crawley and Duckett played exceptionally well. Though KL Rahul was seen giving a pep talk to the team on a few occasions and was also seen setting fields, Shubman was in control without a doubt. The only decision from Shubman was surprising when he delayed bringing Bumrah and Siraj into the attack in the second innings.

A Good Account From A Young Bloke

Shubman’s first stint as captain was nothing short of a tough baptism, but the young bloke gave a good account of himself and led the team well.