ENG vs IND 2025: 'If teams go hard at Gill, it can rattle him a bit' - Alyssa Healy

Australia Women skipper cricketer Alyssa Healy hinted that England could benefit from putting pressure on Indian captain Shubman Gill, suggesting that he may not be as comfortable when faced with aggressive opposition tactics.

Her comments come in the wake of Gill’s on-field exchanges with England opener Zak Crawley during the third Test at Lord’s, moments that drew considerable attention. Despite scoring three centuries in the first two matches, Gill struggled at Lord’s, managing just 22 runs across both innings. The English bowlers consistently targeted him with aggressive sledging whenever he came out to bat, seemingly trying to disrupt his focus.

“I read some stuff about when teams go hard at (Shubman) Gill, it can rattle him a little bit. So if England have got even half a sniff at that, then that’s exactly what’s going to happen, knowing how successful he was in those first two Test matches, there’s a way to get under his skin a little bit,” Healy said while speaking on Willow Talk Podcast.

Healy observed that opposition teams often adopt an aggressive approach against the 25-year-old batter, which can put pressure on the entire Indian side, since he is also the captain of the side now. The Australian international suggested that England should continue to apply as much pressure as possible on the Indian skipper in an effort to unsettle his confidence.

“Teams generally go hard at the skipper. If you can get the skipper cheaply or get under their skin and rattle a few cages in that regard, then you feel you are on your way. So if England sniffs even a little bit of weakness there, they’ll ram that home. They’ll go hard,” Healy said.

Healy encouraged England to adopt a typically Australian approach, using sledging and hard, competitive cricket to keep opposition players under pressure. She hinted that this strategy could test Gill’s temperament, especially with the series on the line.

The fourth Test between England and India is set to begin on July 23 at Old Trafford in Manchester. With England leading the five-match series 2-1, India will be aiming to level it at 2-2 and set up a decider in the final match.