Trisha Ghosal in Birmingham
India barely put a foot wrong after being sent in to bat on the opening morning at Edgbaston. With a towering first innings total of 587, incisive spells from their seamers, and decisive use of the second new ball, the visitors pushed England deep into corners — 84/5 in the first innings, 83/5 in the second. Shubman Gill, leading India for the first time in Tests, didn’t just stamp his authority with the bat, but with sharp field settings and brave calls, including one short-ball burst from Prasidh Krishna that turned the game. Gill’s double-century and hundred in the match were the icing on a clinical all-round effort.
On the key to India’s dominance
“Our bowlers were magnificent,” Gill said. “We are capable of taking 20 wickets anywhere. The consistency from both ends – Siraj, Akash, and even Prasidh – helped us win the little moments. That’s what makes the difference.”
Gill was quick to highlight how India maximised the use of the harder new ball — something England failed to do. “When the ball is soft on a flat pitch, it’s tough to stop runs. With the harder ball, wickets come easier. That second new ball spell changed the game for us.”
On his role as captain
“As a captain, you need to lead by example,” he said. “If you put the team first, you’ll always walk the right path. That’s what I’ve tried to do.”
On not playing Kuldeep
“It was very tempting,” Gill admitted. “But we wanted Washington for his batting. That lower-order partnership gave us a psychological edge.”
On whether Bumrah is playing the next Test
A smile. “Yes, Bumrah will be playing at Lord’s.”
On what’s next for India in this series
“We can win the series from here,” he said firmly. “If we grind hard and play to our potential, this will be a series to remember.”
On his own batting form
“I started working on some things during the last phase of the IPL,” Gill said. “We don’t listen to outside noise. Opinions change every game. If your teammates trust you, that’s what matters.”
With a win under his captaincy and centuries flowing, Gill’s quiet confidence feels like the heartbeat of a team ready to make history.
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