Shubman Gill was eloquent, composed, and affable after securing his maiden Test victory as captain. Speaking to the press after India’s historic win in Birmingham – their first-ever at Edgbaston – Gill lit up the room with well-timed, articulate responses. He was as assured at the microphone as he had been with the bat, amassing 430 runs across two innings to lead India’s stirring comeback in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
India had lost the series opener in Leeds despite scoring over 800 runs, as England chased down 371 in the fourth innings with their trademark aggressive flair. Heading into the second Test, the odds were firmly against Gill’s side – India had never won a Test in Birmingham in nine previous attempts.
That stat had been brought up by a journalist when Gill addressed the media on the eve of the second Test.
Having silenced doubters with a collective team performance – despite the absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah – Gill was in a light-hearted mood at the press conference on Sunday, 7 July.
“I can’t see my favourite journalist. Where is he? I wanted to see him,” Gill said, a friendly smile lighting up his face.
“I even said before the Test match that I don’t really believe in history and stats. Over the last 56 years or so, we’ve played nine matches – different teams have come here. I believe we are the best team to have come here in England, and we have the capability to beat them, to win the series from here. If we keep making the right decisions and keep fighting, I think it would be one of the series to remember,” he added.
NO BUMRAH? NO PROBLEM, SAYS GILL
India produced one of their most dominant away Test performances. Gill led from the front with scores of 269 and 161, shouldering the batting responsibility with maturity. He was well supported by Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant, who played crucial roles in India posting over 1,000 runs across the two innings.
The bowling unit stepped up in Bumrah’s absence. When it was announced that the fast-bowling talisman would be rested for Birmingham, many pundits wrote off India’s chances. Notably, India had lost the Leeds Test despite Bumrah featuring in the XI.
But Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj rose to the occasion, delivering one of the finest fast-bowling performances by an Indian duo on a flat English pitch. Akash finished with 10 wickets, becoming only the second Indian to achieve a 10-wicket match haul in a Test in England. Siraj had set the tone with a six-wicket haul in the first innings, helping India secure a crucial 180-run lead.
Akash then completed the demolition, claiming six in the second innings as England folded for 271 while chasing an improbable 608.
Gill underlined the team’s confidence in its bowling strength, with or without Bumrah.
“I think I said this before the match as well – this Indian team is one of the best to have toured England. The best 16 are chosen to play for the country. I believe all our bowlers have the ability to chip in at any time and help us take 20 wickets. Definitely, Jasprit bhai is one of the best bowlers in the world. But regardless of that, any bowling unit of ours can take 20 wickets anywhere – and this was an example of that,” Gill said.
‘I NEEDED TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE’
He also acknowledged the need to lead by example, particularly after having been critical of India’s top order for failing to convert hundreds into match-defining knocks in Leeds – a game where four Indian batters crossed the three-figure mark, yet the team failed to win.
There was no such lapse this time. Gill’s twin tons, combined with India’s all-round effort, ensured there was no room for an English comeback.
“When you’re the captain, I think you need to lead by example. So that whenever there’s another player in that situation, you can command to that player that this is what the team requires right now – you have to put the team ahead rather than trying something.
“If you put the team first, you always walk on the right path. That’s what I wanted to do: If a good ball gets me out, it’s okay, but as long as I am there, I want to stay as long as possible,” he added.
India now head to the third Test at Lord’s, starting 10 July, with momentum firmly in their favour. Gill confirmed that Bumrah, rested for the second Test, will return for the marquee clash at the Home of Cricket.
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