Shubman Gill’s double hundred and a century in two innings of Edgbaston test marks a new high in his career after he took over from Virat Kohli as the captain Indian test team. His performance, for which no praise is too high coming that it is after the retirement of Kohli and Rohit Sharma cannot be overstated.
Gill becoming the captain cannot be stated to be unexpected owing to the lack of contenders. But he had his share of detractors.
Even Rohit Sharma when asked a few months ago about potential leaders, had said “the boys are not ready yet ” When Gill unveiled a new cricket for this, it had the tagline “prince.”
It happened to be the moniker attached to him. And there were sniggers about his arrogance.
Criticism flowed in after India’s defeat to England in the first test of the series. Gill’s captaincy style was lambasted by eminent cricketers like Mike Atherton and Nasir Hussain who pointed to “lack of aura” and “captaincy by committee”.
After India went to the second test sans Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldip Yadav, more critics found their voice. After all, these two were the bowlers who could win the game.
On a flat batting track, India floundered, finding themselves at 211 for five. The apprehension of being shot out for less than 300 loomed large.
It was at this critical juncture did Gill unfurled a captain’s innings. It was a flawless knock.
It had a series-reviving potential. It also showcased Gill’s grit.
Gill floundering under pressure in the last test series against Australia is not a distant memory. They would have big moments for India had he been able to play upto his potential.
But it is not the same cricketer who is leading India in the first two test matches in England. He is cultivating a restraint which his batting needs so badly.
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Time was when as a teenager Gill compared Kohli’s scores with his own in the age group tournaments. Now other teenagers in the country will be comparing his scores with their own.
Now they will be trying to emulate Gill. The prince is now the king.
It is a “poetic coincidence” that Gill scored 269 in the second test against England. His score is the same as the number in Kohli’s test cap.
