Did Shubman Gill Just Prove He’s a Complete Batter?

Birmingham, July 6 (NationPress) Former England cricketer Jonathan Trott expressed his admiration for India captain Shubman Gill after his magnificent innings of 161 runs in the second innings of the second Test against England at Edgbaston. Trott praised Gill's incredible performance, which propelled India to a formidable 427/6 declared and set England a daunting target of 608 runs. He highlighted Gill’s batting maturity and dominance at just 25 years of age. Gill had earlier played a career-best innings of 269 runs, along with Ravindra Jadeja's contribution of 89 runs, helping India amass 587 runs in the first innings.

“I truly feel fortunate to witness that innings. I can’t remember him offering the English bowlers a single opportunity. His ability to shift gears effortlessly—hitting sixes with precision and without resorting to slogging—was remarkable. Today, he demonstrated how versatile a batter he is. It reminded me of the legendary Indian number four—almost a clone of that brilliance. I doubt he could have envisioned a better start to his first two Tests on this tour. While he might have preferred a victory at Headingley, he’s now poised for a potentially spectacular win here tomorrow,” Trott remarked on JioHotstar.

Former Indian pacer Varun Aaron also spoke highly of the Indian captain, mentioning Gill's dedication and hard work leading up to the England tour. “Shubman seems to be on an unstoppable path, and I hope this form lasts. But it’s no coincidence; he has put in immense effort—even during the IPL—to enhance his red-ball game. He has adjusted his strategies and fine-tuned his technique, and the outcomes are evident. When someone as gifted as Shubman Gill commits to hard work, he enters the realm of ‘legends’,” he commented.

As Day 5 approaches, India is in a strong position, with England needing an impressive 536 runs to chase the mammoth target of 608 runs in Birmingham, all while contending with a looming rain threat.

In the last session of Day 4, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep made significant early breakthroughs in England’s batting order, dismissing openers Zak Crawley (0) and Ben Duckett (25), before taking down the world’s top-ranked Test batter, Joe Root, within the first 11 overs. This fiery bowling spell firmly established India in control as they seek to level the series.

Regarding Akash Deep’s spirited performance and celebration, Aaron added, “Akash Deep has faced a challenging journey. Originating from Bihar, he had to try out for various state teams due to the Bihar Cricket Association's struggles. He ultimately moved to Bengal as an outsider, earning his place among local players. Performing like this for India in England is a monumental achievement for someone from a small town in Bihar. His celebration conveyed a powerful message—‘I’m here to stay’.”