Shubman Gill Impresses as India’s New Test Captain
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar recently expressed his initial reluctance about choosing Shubman Gill as the new Test captain. Manjrekar believed Jasprit Bumrah would have been a better fit for the role. However, after Gill’s remarkable century on the first day of the Test against England at Headingley, Manjrekar changed his tune, praising the 25-year-old for his calm demeanor and improving skills.
Bumrah, who was in the running for captaincy, decided to step back. He informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he was still recovering from a significant back injury sustained during the recent tour in Australia, which wouldn’t allow him to play five consecutive Tests.
Reflecting on the captaincy decision, Manjrekar said, "Honestly, I was against it at first. I thought Bumrah was a more sensible choice, but I never doubted that Gill could handle captaincy well." He also remarked on Gill’s technical skills, which were critical in his innings.
Manjrekar noted, "We knew he wouldn’t let the pressure of captaincy affect his batting. The main question was whether he could adapt, especially in overseas tests. He proved today that he had worked on his technique.”
Gill’s outstanding performance, scoring an unbeaten 127 runs off 175 balls, marked an impressive start to his captaincy. He joined a distinguished group of Indian players, becoming only the fifth to score a century on his Test captaincy debut, following legends like Vijay Hazare and Virat Kohli.
Entering the crease in the second session, Gill quickly found his rhythm, capitalizing on loose balls from England’s bowling attack, which included Brydon Carse and Ben Stokes. He built a significant partnership of 129 runs with Yashasvi Jaiswal, who also made an admirable contribution before being dismissed by Stokes.
After Jaiswal’s departure, Gill took charge of the innings. He combined careful play with aggressive shots, reaching his first century in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) in just 140 balls, finishing the day strong with the team at 359 for 3. Rishabh Pant provided steady support, remaining unbeaten on 65.
As the day concluded, Gill celebrated his achievement with a bow to the dressing room, receiving applause from the Headingley crowd, signifying a promising start to his leadership journey.
