Shubman Gill Shatters Records: First Asian Test Captain to Score Double Century in England

Remarkable Achievement by Shubman Gill

New Delhi: Yuvraj Singh, the former Indian cricketer, has expressed his admiration for Shubman Gill's outstanding performance during the recent tour of England. This was particularly impressive given the doubts surrounding his ability to perform in overseas conditions prior to the five-Test series.

In the recent Anderson-Tendulkar Test series, Gill emerged as the top run-scorer, amassing 754 runs, including four centuries. This remarkable achievement made him the first Asian player to score over 700 runs in a Test series held in a SENA country, contributing significantly to India's effort to draw the series 2-2.

At just 25 years old, Gill captained a relatively inexperienced team after the departures of seasoned players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin, who left a significant gap in the squad.

"There were many uncertainties regarding his performance abroad. Yet, Gill stepped up as captain and scored four Test centuries. It's remarkable how he embraced the responsibility," Yuvraj stated during an ICC Digital event celebrating the upcoming Women's Cricket World Cup.

"I am incredibly proud of the Indian team. Even though the series ended in a draw, it feels like a victory for us, especially considering the youth of the team. Competing well in England is no small feat, and they proved themselves capable."

Despite facing injuries to key players like wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, Akash Deep, and Arshdeep Singh, along with Jasprit Bumrah managing his workload by playing only three matches, India's resilience shone through as they secured a thrilling six-run victory in the fifth Test at The Oval, leveling the series.

Yuvraj, who has been a mentor to Gill, noted that the Indian squad faced the challenges head-on, even in the absence of stalwarts like Kohli and Rohit.

"It's fantastic to see how a young team handled the pressure of playing in England. Filling the shoes of legends like Kohli and Sharma is no easy task, yet they rose to the occasion," he remarked.

He also commended the contributions of all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, whose crucial partnership was instrumental in drawing the fourth Test in Manchester.

"The pivotal moment of the series was when India managed to draw the Test series. It's been a long time since I've seen Washington and Jadeja score centuries to secure a draw in a Test match," he added.

"This achievement is significant. While Jadeja has been a mainstay for years, Washington Sundar's performance as a newcomer was truly remarkable."