Is Shubman Gill a World-Class Player with a Bright Future?

New Delhi, July 3 (NationPress) Former England cricketer Jonathan Trott lauded captain Shubman Gill for his stellar performance on the first day of the second Test at Edgbaston. Trott characterized Gill as a world-class player with immense potential.

Despite facing pressure and challenging English conditions, Gill achieved his second consecutive Test century during his inaugural leadership role. He finished the day unbeaten on 114, partnering with Ravindra Jadeja (41 not out), guiding India's total to 310/5 at the end of play on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old is now only the second Indian captain after Mohammad Azharuddin to score centuries in successive Tests in England. Having recently set his highest Test score of 147 in the series opener at Leeds, he stands among the top run-scorers in the series with over 250 runs in just three innings.

Trott commented, “Carse has a bit more pace than Chris Woakes, but what’s impressive is Gill’s understanding of how to counter both. He knows Woakes will try to attack the stumps, and without express pace, Gill formulated a plan to handle that — not something he came up with on the day, but a strategy clearly thought out well in advance. This is what separates good players from average ones — and world-class players from the rest. Having the confidence to execute a plan that’s not necessarily textbook, but gives you an edge over the opposition, is remarkable,” during an appearance on JioHotstar's ‘Match Centre Live’.

“As captain, that has a significant impact — not just out in the middle, but also for those watching from the team balcony. What also stood out was his body language and the way he scored his runs. His control against the English bowlers sent a message to the dressing room — that he was taking charge, leading from the front. His intent was clear: ‘I’ll be there, I’ll be not out, and I’ll resume tomorrow. I’ll make sure we get into a winning position.’ Very impressive from such a young man — a world-class player with a bright future,” Trott added.

Gill wasn't the only standout for India, as opener Yashasvi Jaiswal also navigated the early tough conditions to notch his 11th Test half-century, falling short of a well-deserved sixth century after being dismissed for 87 by Ben Stokes.

Trott commented on Jaiswal's innings, stating he was “very impressive and a fantastic player for India.”

“There was a bit of a contrast — some play and misses, but also some exquisite cricket shots. We've spoken about how he tends to chase the ball outside off at times, but when he plays straight, he times the ball so well. He doesn’t need to over-hit. We’ve seen him dismantle bowling attacks before, and he’s shown he can hit sixes almost at will. But across these three innings in England, he seems to be in much better control. He’s developed a game plan — he knows where and when to score. England will try to challenge that with tricky field placements, testing his patience and ego. But overall, very impressive. He’s a fantastic player for India,” the former batter noted.

Trott urged India to continue their focus and capitalize on their advantageous position heading into Day 2.

“India won’t need any reminders about the collapses they’ve faced in recent Tests. For me, the coaching staff — who’ve done an excellent job across formats — will reinforce one key message: don’t switch off. Once you feel you've done enough, reset and go again. You’ve got to bat five more sessions and really build a platform — either bat England out of the game or create three or four sessions of scoreboard pressure. They're in a position to do it. The captain, Jaiswal, Jadeja — they’ve all worked incredibly hard. Now, they need to press on and make it count.”