Gautam Gambhir Supports Shubman Gill After Tough Test Captaincy Debut
Gautam Gambhir Backs Shubman Gill Following Defeat
Leeds [UK], June 25: Following a challenging start to his captaincy, Gautam Gambhir has called for patience regarding Shubman Gill, who faced a tough five-wicket loss against England in the first Test at Headingley.
Gill's initiation into the red-ball format was marked by a harsh reality, as he witnessed his team dominate for significant portions of the match yet still succumb to defeat.
India appeared to be in a strong position midway through day four, aiming for their first victory at this venue since 2002. However, a collapse at the tail end and a lesson in chasing from England left Gill and his team disappointed.
Despite the setback, Gambhir praised the young captain's leadership, emphasizing that he possesses the qualities necessary for success. He reminded critics that Gill's journey has just begun, especially in the absence of seasoned players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
“It’s his first Test match, and naturally, there are nerves involved. Captaining the Test side is a rare honor, and he performed exceptionally well. The way he batted in the first innings, despite the pressure of being a first-time captain, was commendable,” Gambhir stated during the post-match press conference.
“We need to give him time to grow into this role. It’s early days, and he will improve. Leading in such challenging conditions is akin to being thrown into the deep end, but I believe he will emerge as a skilled professional,” he added.
While some questioned Gill's leadership on the field, his batting performance in the first innings silenced many critics. He consistently troubled England's inexperienced pace attack, forming a formidable partnership with Rishabh Pant that resulted in a 195-run stand, culminating in a remarkable century.
Gill's innings ended at 147 runs off 227 balls when he attempted to hit a boundary but ended up giving a catch to Josh Tongue. In the second innings, he was dismissed cheaply for 8 runs after inadvertently hitting the ball onto his stumps. Nevertheless, India found strength in KL Rahul and Pant, who both scored centuries, helping the team reach 364 runs.
Chasing a target of 371 runs, England's Ben Duckett scored a fiery 149, and Joe Root contributed an unbeaten 53, leading their team to victory and marking their second-highest successful chase in Test history.