Subhayan Chakraborty in Birmingham
“I can’t see my favorite journalist,” said Shubman Gill with a beaming, friendly smile during the post-match press conference after India breached Fortress Edgbaston and defeated England by 336 runs to level the five-Test series at 1-1. “Where is he? I wanted to see him.” An English journalist had reminded Gill about India’s winless history at the venue before the start of the game. Not only one English journalist, but many experts and fans had questioned Gill when he was named India’s Test captain, and even more so when the visitors lost the Headingley Test despite dominating most of the match.
“I even said before the Test match that I don’t really believe in history and stats,” said GIll. “Over the last 56 years or so, we’ve played nine matches—different teams have come here. I believe we are the best team to have come to England, and we have the capability to beat them and win the series from here. If we keep making the right decisions and keep fighting, I think it will be one of the series to remember.”
Gill’s SENA average of 25.70 was questioned. His credentials as a Test batter, averaging 35 before the series, were also doubted. However, Gill has started to answer these doubts with great panache. Not only has he amassed 585 runs in four innings, including a career-best 269 and 161 in Birmingham, but he has also led the team from the front.
Gill has shown improved technique, great composure, and solid fitness to bat session after session, consistently putting England on the back foot. As a captain, his bowling changes have been spot-on, his field placements precise, and his willingness to try different approaches when a particular plan isn’t working has been praised by many.
“When you’re the captain, I think you need to lead by example,” he said. “So that whenever another player is in that situation, you can tell them that this is what the team requires right now. You have to put the team ahead rather than trying something else. If you put the team first, you always walk the right path. That’s what I wanted to do. If a good ball gets me out, it’s okay, but as long as I’m there, I want to stay as long as possible.”
Before the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy began, Gill was not only beginning his journey as the leader of the pack but also replacing two giants of Indian cricket – Rohit Sharma as captain and Virat Kohli at No. 4. Following the Test retirements of the duo, their massive fan bases were far from happy and going by social media trends – which hardly matter – many trolls, some masquerading as fans, were ready to target Gill. And many did after the Headingley defeat. But Gill has shut out the outside noise to focus on two things: batting long and leading well.
“We don’t listen to outside noise,” he said. “Opinions change after every game. If your teammates trust you, that’s what matters.”
Gill has managed to silence the critics following the historic win at Edgbaston, but he knows the knives will be out if India don’t perform well at Lord’s.
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