Shubman Gill secured his maiden victory as India's Test captain today, guiding his team to a resounding 336-run triumph over England in the second Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Edgbaston.
This historic win marks India's biggest away Test victory ever, with captain Gill himself leading from the front with a monumental 430 runs across both innings.
Gill's exceptional performance included a 250-plus score in the first innings and a 150-plus score in the second innings, making him the second-highest run-scorer in a Test match, only behind former English batter Graham Gooch's 456 runs.
He was named Player of the Match for his brilliant outing with the bat.
India set a daunting target of 608 runs for England on Day 4 and sealed the win on the final day, restricting the hosts to 271 runs despite a delayed start due to rain.
Speaking after the match, a jubilant Shubman Gill, who was also named Player of the Match, reflected on the team's dominant display. "All the things we spoke about after the last game, we were spot on with all of those things," Gill stated, referencing their strategies following a previous loss. "I think the way we came back with our bowling and fielding was tremendous to see."
Gill lauded his bowling attack's efforts on a challenging pitch. "On this kind of wicket, we knew that if we got 400-500 runs, it would be enough. Not every game will be like Headingley," he explained. "[The bowlers] They were magnificent. The way we were able to get through their top order, they bowled brilliantly."
He specifically praised Prasidh for his impactful bowling despite not taking many wickets, and highlighted Akash Deep's impressive control. "Even Prasidh didn't get as many wickets, but he bowled brilliantly. [On Akash Deep] He hit the right lengths and was getting the ball to move both ways, which was difficult on a pitch like this. He was magnificent for us."
Regarding his own stellar batting, Gill emphasised his focus on his primary role. "I am definitely feeling comfortable with my game, and if we are able to win the series with my contributions, it'll be great. As I said before, I want to play as a batsman, go out as a batsman and make decisions as a batsman. Sometimes you won't take some risks when you're thinking as a captain, which you have to do as a batsman."
Looking ahead to the next match at Lord's, Gill confirmed the highly anticipated return of star pacer Jasprit Bumrah. When asked about captaining at the iconic venue, Gill's excitement was palpable: "No bigger honour than to captain your country in a Test match at Lord's."
India will now carry this momentum into the crucial third Test as they aim to take the lead in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
