Shubman Gill century Headingley

ENG vs IND: Shubman Gill’s mature 127 against England impresses Sunil Gavaskar, says ‘He was gorgeous’

Danijones11 hours ago05 mins

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar lavished praise on Shubman Gill for his composed and mature century on Day 1 of the Headingley Test against England. On his Test captaincy debut, Gill remained unbeaten on 127, showcasing both poise and authority as he guided India to a dominant position. Speaking on Sony Sports, Gavaskar highlighted the 25-year-old’s development as a batter and leader, calling his innings a reflection of how far he has come since his early days. Taking over at No.4 following Virat Kohli’s retirement, and shouldering the added weight of captaincy, Gill responded with calm assurance at the crease. ENG vs IND, 1st Test Day 1: Highlights|Report “He’s (Shubman Gill) looking absolutely gorgeous at the crease. That shot early on in his innings—playing straight down the ground—is not an easy one to execute. It showed just how well he was seeing the ball: the speed, the timing, the control—everything was spot on,” Gavaskar said. “We’ve seen him grow up in front of the camera—from the U-19 World Cup days to now anchoring a Test innings. Every time he walks out now, you can see how much more solid and mature he looks. Early on, he had a bit of a weakness around the off stump, often playing across the line and getting caught out. But now, he’s much more assured,” he added. India were cruising at 91 for no loss before a mini-collapse saw KL Rahul fall for 42 to Brydon Carse, followed by debutant Sai Sudharsan departing for a duck to Ben Stokes. Suddenly at 92 for 2, the momentum had shifted slightly, but Gill’s arrival helped settle nerves. Gavaskar pointed to how Gill handled the pressure brilliantly, first by absorbing the conditions and letting Yashasvi Jaiswal dictate the scoring. Once settled, Gill accelerated with purpose, bringing up his half-century in just 56 balls. Facing a quality England bowling attack—featuring Chris Woakes, Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse, captain Ben Stokes, and Shoaib Bashir—Gill stayed composed and unflustered. The former India opener was particularly impressed with Gill’s range of shots and decision-making, noting that his technique around the off-stump had improved significantly. Straight drives, cover punches, and the well-timed flicks spoke of a batter in control of both his game and the match situation – which ultimately saw him finish his 140-ball century with a sublime cover drive. One moment that stood out was Gill’s gesture after reaching his century—a small bow towards the Indian dressing room. Gavaskar praised the humility and meaning behind the act, saying it reflected the gratitude a player shows to those behind the scenes—the coaches, teammates, and support staff who prepare and push each other every day. “That little bow to the dressing room was a nice touch. It means so much, because those are the people you train with, run between the wickets with, and who’ve been part of your preparation. It was a gesture of appreciation—’thank you, guys, I wouldn’t have reached here without you,” Gavaskar added. Following Jaiswal’s dismissal for 101, Gill took on the mantle of guiding the innings alongside Rishabh Pant, who added a brisk, unbeaten 65. By stumps, India had reached 359 for 3, firmly in control of the match. Published By: Debodinna Chakraborty Published On: Jun 21, 2025

ENG vs IND: Prince Shubman Gill echoes King Virat Kohli with century on Test captaincy debut

Danijones13 hours ago05 mins

In 2014, a young Virat Kohli began his Test captaincy career with a century in Adelaide. Four years later, he repeated the feat in England — a hard-fought hundred at Edgbaston in his first Test as captain on English soil. Now, Shubman Gill has followed in his footsteps. On June 20 at Headingley, Gill marked his first Test as India’s red-ball captain with a composed 140-ball century, leading the way just as Kohli had done before him. Taking over the No.4 position vacated by Kohli himself, Gill made a powerful statement — not only as a batter but as the new face of India’s Test leadership. ENG vs IND, 1st Test Day 1: Updates Before the match, Gill was clear about his personal goals amid the added responsibility. “I want to be the best batter in this series,” he said — a mindset he brought with him to the middle, unfazed by the pressure of captaincy or conditions. India started brightly on Day 1, with both openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul off to a fluent start with their 91-run stand. But England struck back before lunch. KL Rahul, who looked in rhythm, fell to Brydon Carse, and debutant Sai Sudharsan was dismissed for a duck by Ben Stokes. Standing on 92 for 2 at lunch, India were briefly under pressure. That’s when Gill walked in — facing not just an England attack in home conditions, but also the burden of expectation. His overseas record had drawn criticism, averaging 25.70 in SENA countries with only two fifties, both in Australia. In England, he had managed just 88 runs across three Tests at an average of 14.66. But at Headingley, Gill looked determined to shift that narrative. Batting at No.4, Gill began cautiously while allowing Jaiswal to keep the runs flowing. But once settled, he began showing his range — reaching his fifty in just 56 balls, with effortless timing and crisp shot selection. After Jaiswal was dismissed for 101, Gill took charge, controlling the innings with help from vice-captain Rishabh Pant at the other end. In doing so, Gill became just the fifth Indian captain to score a Test century in England, joining a select club that includes Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, Mohammed Azharuddin, Sourav Ganguly, and Virat Kohli. That this came in his very first match as captain — and at the historic Headingley — only added weight to the achievement. Gill’s innings wasn’t flashy, but it was controlled and authoritative. It was built on awareness — of the situation, of his own game, and of the responsibility on his shoulders. There was no captain’s armband, but there was leadership written all over the knock. It was a start that mirrored Kohli’s in many ways — but with Gill’s own quiet imprint. For a side seeking direction in the post-Kohli-Rohit era, Day 1 of the Headingley Test might just have offered a glimpse of what the future looks like. Published By: Debodinna Chakraborty Published On: Jun 20, 2025