New Delhi, Aug 8 (NationPress) Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel is of the opinion that Test captain Shubman Gill has successfully addressed all the challenges and inquiries posed to him through his impressive run-scoring performance during the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series against England.

Gill’s debut series as India’s Test captain culminated in a drawn scoreline of 2-2 in the five-match series held in England. He emerged as the top run-scorer, amassing an incredible 754 runs in 10 innings, with an average of 75.40, including four centuries, earning him the title of India’s Player of the Series.

“Four centuries, an average of 75.40, and over 750 runs — all achieved under various conditions. Initially, there were doubts about his ability to perform in SENA countries. Can he maintain consistency? But look at the responses he’s provided. He scored 147 runs in the first innings at Headingley,” Patel remarked.

“In the second innings, critics noted that he squandered his wicket after a significant score. But then came 269 runs in the first innings at Edgbaston. Again, skepticism arose that it might not be sufficient, but he followed it with 161 runs in the second innings.”

“During the third Test, he got out early in both innings, reigniting questions about his form, despite having scored 430 runs in the previous match. Yet, he responded with a century in Manchester, in a game India needed to draw. Whenever challenges have arisen, and questions posed, Gill has responded flawlessly with his bat,” Patel stated on JioHotstar.

He also highlighted the often-overlooked significance of Ravindra Jadeja and his batting prowess, who contributed 516 runs for India, including five half-centuries and a commendable unbeaten century that helped India secure a draw in the fourth Test at Manchester.

“The importance of the 516 runs scored by Jadeja is amplified, especially after India faced two batting collapses in the first Test. This is where the contributions of batters in the numbers six and seven positions become critical — and naturally, Ravindra Jadeja is a key player in that role.”

“Following that, there were no further batting collapses for the remainder of the series. His consistency and performance were crucial for India. This principle applies equally to KL Rahul, as it is vital for senior players to step up in crucial moments, and Jadeja has exemplified this in the series,” Patel concluded.