Former England captain Michael Vaughan praised Shubman Gill’s courage and leadership during his first series as Team India skipper, following a hard-fought draw in the fourth Test at Old Trafford. Gill led from the front, recovering from a poor start to the second innings to score his fourth century of the series in challenging conditions.
He had made a strong statement before the match, vowing that India wouldn’t back down after tensions flared in the previous Test at Lord’s. Despite being booed when he came out to bat on Day 1 and being dismissed for just 12, Gill remained composed. Vaughan praised Gill’s leadership and resilience, noting his strong support for the team throughout the series.
“I like to see a young captain with a little bit of authority. I’ve actually loved the way that he has spoken. He’s not been scared to kind of poke the bear. You’ve got to stand up for your teammates, for what you believe as a team. So far, in Shubman Gill, I am seeing a captain that is willing to do that,” Vaughan said on Cricbuzz.
Former wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik also remarked that India have a dependable leader in Gill and praised the way he managed the final moments of the fourth Test.
“He came in as a young captain and people were not sure how it is going to pan out, but I can tell you, we have a bona fide superstar as a Test captain because of the guts he is showing as a batter and how firmly he stands his ground. In the last few minutes, he was just standing in the balcony, poker face, saying, ‘Get out there, get your hundreds,'” Dinesh Karthik said.
Shubman Gill Handles Pressure Brilliantly After England’s 669 And Early Collapse
Team India spent 157 overs in the field as England piled up a massive 669, building a dominant lead and all but eliminating India’s chances of victory. To make matters worse, Shubman Gill was forced to bat in the very first over of the second innings after Chris Woakes removed both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan early.
“I just like the way that he (Gill) keeps calm. When you think he was in the field for 157 overs as a captain, and he actually said to the BBC that he was actually in the toilet when the couple of wickets fell, he was not expecting to bat before Lunch on Day 4. He had to rush out there. I love the fact that he kept his two players out there to get the hundreds,” Vaughan said.
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