Debasis Sen in Birmingham
Shubman Gill, India’s new Test captain, has announced his arrival as a leader in grand fashion, delivering back-to-back centuries in the ongoing Test series in England. After a commanding 147 at Headingley in the series opener, Gill followed up with a masterclass of 269 in the first innings of the Edgbaston Test, cementing his stature as one of the game’s finest young talents.
His epic knock, spanning 387 balls, was a display of composure, elegance, and authority. He struck 30 boundaries and cleared the rope thrice, leaving the packed Edgbaston crowd in awe. As he walked back to the pavilion, he received a rousing standing ovation. Among those applauding was none other than former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, who, watching from the press conference room behind the media centre, called it “one of the best knocks by an Indian batsman in England”.
Gill’s brilliance brought back vivid memories of Virat Kohli’s memorable 149 at Edgbaston in the 2018 series, against a fierce English attack featuring James Anderson, Stuart Broad, and Ben Stokes. As someone who had the privilege of covering Kohli’s innings live back then, watching Gill’s performance from the boundary line felt equally momentous.
Technically assured and mentally composed, Gill offered England’s bowlers very little. His only moments of vulnerability came early in the innings — a couple of outside edges off Chris Woakes and a near-miss LBW decision off Brydon Carse. Beyond those, his control was near-flawless, with just a handful of false shots to Woakes and Stokes. The innings was as close to perfection as one could ask for in English conditions.
Before arriving in England, Gill’s record in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) countries was nothing to shout about. In 20 innings, he had scored just 514 runs at an average of 20.7, with only two half-centuries. However, his performance in this series, especially this monumental effort of 269, has firmly put to rest questions about his ability outside the subcontinent.
In making the highest Test score by an Indian captain and the most runs in an innings by any Indian batter outside Asia, Gill not only made history but also silenced critics — at least for now. Bigger challenges await, but for the moment, Gill’s star is shining as brightly as ever in England.
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