Shubman Gill's Historic Performance in Birmingham Test Earns Praise from Coach Morne Morkel
Morne Morkel Commends Shubman Gill's Leadership
Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel expressed admiration for captain Shubman Gill following a remarkable performance in the Birmingham Test. Morkel noted that Gill has managed the pressure exceptionally well, labeling his contributions as 'exceptional'.
In the record-setting Test against England, Gill amassed an impressive total of 430 runs, scoring 269 and 161 in both innings. This achievement places him second for the highest aggregate runs in a Test match against India, trailing only Graham Gooch's 456 runs at Lord's in 1990.
Gill's performance also marked him as the second player to score over 150 runs in both innings of a Test, a feat previously accomplished by Allan Border against Pakistan in 1980. Notably, this is the first instance of a player scoring both 250-plus and 150-plus in a single Test.
Handling Expectations with Confidence
During a press conference after the day's play, Morkel shared his happiness for Gill, especially as he leads the team on a significant tour in England. He remarked, 'There are big crowds and a lot of expectations on his shoulders, and he has managed it very well so far.'
Morkel praised Gill's confidence and his ability to connect with teammates, emphasizing the importance of delivering results as a captain. He concluded, 'It's great for your captain to confront challenges like this, and I’m pleased for him.'
Gill Joins Elite Company
Shubman Gill has now joined the ranks of legendary Indian cricketers, becoming only the second player after Sunil Gavaskar to score a double century and a century in the same Test. Gavaskar achieved this in 1971 against the West Indies.
Gill surpassed former captain Virat Kohli's record for the highest aggregate by an Indian captain in a Test match, with Kohli having scored 243 and 50 against Sri Lanka in December 2017.
Gill's Place in Asian Cricket History
Gill is now recognized as the second Asian player to achieve a 350-plus aggregate in a Test match outside the subcontinent, following Pakistan's Hanif Mohammad in 1958.
He is also the third Asian player to score over 300 runs in a Test match held in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia), joining the ranks of Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar.
Furthermore, Gill is among the few Indian captains to score over 100 runs in both innings of a Test, alongside Gavaskar and Kohli. He is also the second player to hit three hundreds in his first two Tests as captain, following Kohli.