Given the doubts about Shubman Gill’s ability to bat in foreign circumstances going into the five Test series, former India batsman Yuvraj Singh believes that Gill’s performance on the recent England tour was nothing short of spectacular.
Gill concluded as the top run scorer with 754 runs and four hundreds during the recent Anderson-Tendulkar Test series. His achievement helped the visitors draw the five-Test series 2-2 and made him the first Asian hitter to amass 700+ runs in a Test series in a SENA nation.
Following the retirements of three Test mainstays, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin, Gill, 25, headed a youthful team on the challenging tour.
“There were a lot of question marks over his overseas record. The guy (Gill) became the captain and scored four Test hundreds. It’s just unbelievable that when you’re given responsibility, how you take it,” Yuvraj told ICC Digital on the sidelines of the ’50 Days To Go’ Women’s Cricket World Cup event.
“So, very proud of them (Indian team). I certainly feel it’s a win for us, although it’s a drawn series, because it’s a young team. And it’s not easy to go and play well in England and prove yourself,” Yuvraj added.
India’s resolve was evident as they leveled the series with an exciting six-run victory in the fifth Test at Oval, despite being plagued by injuries to wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, Akash Deep, and Arshdeep Singh, and their pace leader Jasprit Bumrah playing just three games to manage his workload.
Even without players like Rohit and Kohli, the Indian team faced the challenge head-on, according to Yuvraj, who has coached Gill.
“It’s just fantastic because I felt when you have a young team going to England, it’s a lot of pressure. You’re filling the boots of somebody like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, it’s not easy. The guys took it head-on,” Yuvraj said.
All-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, whose marathon partnership helped India draw the fourth Test in Manchester, were also commended by him for their efforts.
“The moment in the tournament was when India drew the Test series. I’ve never seen, in a very long time, Washington and Jadeja got hundreds and drew a Test match,” Yuvraj said.
“That speaks volumes. Obviously Jadeja has been there for a long time. But I think Washington Sundar, as a youngster coming into the team, it was incredible to do what he did,” added Yuvraj.
