
Gill silences critics with runs, results
Shouldn't he be given more time to find his feet while a senior like KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah or Rishabh Pant could have done the job? Won't the weight of captaining a transitional Indian team in a punishing place like England, where the visitors have won a Test series just thrice, weigh him down? Will the physical and emotional toil of leading in a gruelling five-match series affect his batting — he averaged 36.57 before this series — which is still a work in progress?
Well, the soft-spoken but hard-nosed Gill has answered most of those questions in emphatic fashion, indicating he's one of those who can thrive personally in leadership roles.
Firstly, the batting where Gill has smashed some long-standing records and is on course to obliterate a few more when he takes strike in the final Test at The Oval starting July 31.
Prior to the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, the Punjabi didn't have a single century in SENA countries — he hasn't played a Test yet in New Zealand. In fact, out of his five tons before landing here, all had come in the subcontinent — four in India and one in Bangladesh.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


India.com
9 minutes ago
- India.com
‘Never Considered Not Going Out There': Chris Woakes Opens Up On Batting With Dislocated Shoulder In Oval Thriller
IND vs ENG: England all-rounder Chris Woakes has opened up about the pain and determination behind his courageous walk to the crease during the final moments of the fifth Test against India at The Oval. Despite nursing a dislocated shoulder, Woakes ran between the wickets to keep England's hopes alive in a thrilling finish. A Brave Walk to the Crease England were in deep trouble on Day 5 of the fifth and final Test against India at The Oval, chasing 374 for victory. Reduced to 367/9, the match seemed all but over—until an unexpected sight stunned fans and players alike. Chris Woakes, who had suffered a dislocated shoulder on Day 1 and played no part in the match since, emerged from the pavilion with his arm in a sling, determined to bat for his team. Despite the injury, Woakes took his position at the non-striker's end, showing grit and courage. Though he did not face a single ball, he repeatedly ran between the wickets alongside Gus Atkinson as England tried to pull off a miraculous win. "Never Considered Not Going Out There" In an emotional interview with The Guardian, Woakes admitted he was devastated by the loss but never questioned whether he would bat. 'I'm still gutted, devastated really, that we couldn't get the fairytale. But I never considered not going out there, even if it had been 100 runs still to win or whatever,' Woakes said. He acknowledged the standing ovation he received and the gestures of respect from Indian players, but humbly noted that 'any other player would have done the same.' Although he never faced a delivery, Woakes' contribution wasn't without suffering. He ran singles with visible difficulty, clutching his strapped shoulder and wincing in pain. 'The first one was the worst,' he said. 'All I had taken was codeine and it was just so sore. Instinct took over even with my arm strapped down I tried to run as you naturally do.' In one particularly distressing moment, he threw off his helmet and removed a glove using his teeth to check if his shoulder had dislocated again. Heroic Effort in Vain Despite Woakes' brave act, England fell short by just 6 runs. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna held their nerve to finish the job for India and clinch the series in one of the most memorable Test finishes in recent history. While England were left heartbroken, Woakes' courage under physical duress drew admiration from across the cricketing world. His appearance at the crease served as a reminder of the selfless and fighting spirit that defines Test cricket at its best.


News18
17 minutes ago
- News18
He Argued With Kohli On Debut And Left Bumrah Fuming, Now This Australian Has Been Picked For Maiden India Tour
Last Updated: 19-year-old Australia opener Sam Konstas will be representing Australia A on their red-ball tour of India next month. Cricket Australia have sent struggling Sam Konstas to India for Australia A's red-ball tour of the country next month. Konstas first came into the limelight following a half-century on debut while facing the likes of Jasprit Bumrah during the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy in December. He further hit the headlines thanks to his heated altercation with Virat Kohli and later Bumrah. However, following the BGT, Konstas has been struggling to get going in Test cricket. Australia chief selector George Bailey feels that the experience of playing in India will be invaluable for the teenages. The 19-year-old, who had a tough time during Australia's recent senior tour of the West Indies, is the only current Test player chosen for two four-day matches in Lucknow. Test-capped players Cooper Connolly, Todd Murphy, and Nathan McSweeney were also included in the 14-man squad. A separate Australia A squad was announced for three one-day matches. 'The subcontinent presents many unique challenges and offers the chance to utilise different skills with both bat and ball," said Bailey. Konstas made headlines during the Melbourne Boxing Day Test last year when he faced Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, scoring a fiery debut 60 with a series of unorthodox shots. He lasted for one more Test before being dropped, only to regain his place for the West Indies Test series in June-July. However, he struggled to score more than 25 in six innings, making his hold on the position increasingly uncertain ahead of Australia's home Ashes series against England this year. With AFP Inputs view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


News18
32 minutes ago
- News18
Sachin Tendulkar Reviews India-England Test Series: No Handshake, Cool Shubman, Mature Jaiswal
Last Updated: tendulkar Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, the man who inspired an entire generation and beyond to pick up the bat, dove deep into the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, wherein India heroically drew the Test series 2-2 on English soil. Tendulkar, who holds the record for the most runs (1575) scored in Tests by an Indian batter in England, touched upon the handshake controversy, the newly appointed Indian skipper Shubman Gill, the importance of pacer Mohammed Siraj, Yashasvi Jaiswal's role in guiding nightwatchman Akash Deep in their century stand, and more. Sachin Tendulkar, the brand ambassador of Reddit India, felt India did the right thing by rejecting the handshake Ben Stokes and Co. offered in the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester just moments before Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja's respective centuries. The Handshake Controversy India had a disastrous start in the fourth innings of the fourth Test in Manchester. England posted an intimidating 669 in their first innings in response to India's 358. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan were dismissed inside the first over on Day 4, and India looked at a certain defeat. A loss here would have also meant a series defeat for the visiting party. However, KL Rahul (90), along with captain Shubman Gill (103), put up a heroic show, a partnership of 188 runs that brought back a sense of relief and smiles on the faces of tense fans. Day 5 brought a new set of challenges for Team India after Rahul and Gill departed in quick succession, as the scorecard now read 222/4. But Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja had no plans of surrendering to the hosts. The fantastic duo slammed tons. Jadeja clocked 107 off 185, while his partner, Sundar, posted his maiden Test century and remained unbeaten on 101 off 206 balls. Just before they could reach their respective landmarks, Jadeja and Sundar were offered a handshake by England skipper Ben Stokes and his men, implying that they wanted to pack their bags and go home, knowing that a draw was inevitable. India, however, refused to put shutters on the Test match just yet. Once they slammed their well-deserved three-figure scores, Jaddu and Washy shook hands. India had registered a famous and fighting draw, thus keeping the series alive. Sharing his thoughts on the controversial episode, Tendulkar, in a Reddit video, stated that it wasn't India's problem, and it was absolutely fine what the two batters did on the field. 'People are asking Washington scored a hundred, Jadeja scored a hundred was it in the right spirit? Why shouldn't it be? They were playing for a draw. Before that, when England was having a go at them – they negotiated it well," Tendulkar said in a video on Reddit. 'According to me, the series was alive. So why should they (India) go ahead (to shake hands) and give the rest to England fielders and the bowlers? If they (England) want to bowl Harry Brook, it was Ben Stokes' choice. That is not India's problem. So, to me, it was absolutely fine," he added. Tendulkar opined that India had to endure the full-time bowlers all day long before Harry Brook was handed the ball. Jadeja and Sundar weren't playing for their centuries but saving the match for India. 'They were playing for a draw, not their centuries. If they had gotten out when they came out to bat, we could've lost the Test. A few more wickets and we would've been in trouble. When they came out to bat, Harry Brook wasn't bowling, right? Someone else was. So, why should England's bowlers and fielders be kept fresh for the 5th Test? Do you have an answer for that? No!" Yashasvi Jaiswal With so many men in the playing XI rising to the occasion throughout the five-match Test series, Yashasvi Jaiswal may not have gotten the limelight he perhaps deserved. The Indian opener accumulated 411 runs at 41.10 average with two centuries and as many half-centuries to his name. Stressing the importance of Jaiswal, Tendulkar admitted that he was impressed by the young cricketer's mindset. 'Jaiswal impressed me because of his mindset. He is fearless, knows how to accelerate, when to be at the non-strikers' end, and when to play a phase out carefully. You cannot bat in a single gear. You need to use different gears. This is what he did right from the first Test. He did look uncomfortable at times in the first Test, but eventually it boils down to the right column of the scorecard, and he scored a 100, the legendary cricketer said. 'For me, it was important. The first innings of the first match in a five-Test series is very critical." The veteran also congratulated Jaiswal on masterfully guiding Akash Deep when the nightwatchman came to bat and added an invaluable 66 to India's score. 'In the last Test, when he scored a century, a magnificent one on a difficult track to bat on. He showed character, maturity and determination. The way he guided Akash Deep, motivated him to score, it was a treat to watch." Captain-Batter Shubman Gill Shubman Gill won praises from cricket pundits and fans alike for kicking off his maiden Test series as a captain on a high. Drawing a Test series on English soil was no easy feat. Defying the weight of the skipper's hat, Gill also hammered 754 runs in five Tests, earning him the Player of the Series award. 'The most important thing that I noticed was the respect for a good ball, where the tendency is sometimes to push the ball in front foot, he was able to defend there, defend on front foot, it was solid, overall the shot selection was precise," Tendulkar said in a Reddit video. top videos View all 'Gill looked calm and composed, but when an opposition builds partnerships, it becomes tough for any captain to build a game plan and ensure that the runs dry up. Gill controlled the team and the game well," Tendulkar added. You can read Tendulkar's assessment of KL Rahul here. And his review on Mohammed Siraj here. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk More Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : sachin tendulkar view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 07, 2025, 10:03 IST News explainers Sachin Tendulkar Reviews India-England Test Series: No Handshake, Cool Shubman, Mature Jaiswal Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.