ENG vs IND 2025: Shubman Gill's hunger to score runs and the way he ran the game stood out at Edgbaston: Irfan Pathan
"The composure he has shown, the way he has batted is commendable. Defence has been excellent, and the hunger to score runs was very evident in captain Gill's batting," Irfan Pathan said.
Irfan Pathan lavished praise on Shubman Gill and the Indian team after the Asian giants scripted history by beating England at Edgbaston, Birmingham, in the second Test in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. This was India's first Test win at the historic venue where they have been playing cricket since 1967.
Pathan said that ahead of the series, there were questions being asked about India's ability to counter England's ultra-aggressive 'Bazball' strategy. In the second Test, India rested their talismanic speedster Jasprit Bumrah and kept Kuldeep Yadav on the bench. Some experts and fans wondered whether India would be able to take 20 wickets. Pathan mentioned that all these questions have been answered in a way that is very heartening to see.
"India! India! India! Gill! Gill! Gill! This chant should reverberate. The feat achieved by captain Shubman Gill's young Indian team is commendable. See, there were questions being raised. Will India be able to counter Bazball? Will the inexperienced bowling lineup, in the absence of Bumrah and Kuldeep, will be able to take 20 wickets? Everyone's questions have been answered, and how they have been answered is the most heartening thing," Pathan said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
The former India all-rounder also mentioned some of the fantastic records created by Gill on the tour. The Punjab batter had a memorable outing at Edgbaston, scoring 269 in the first innings and 161 in the second. This came after his 147 in the first innings of the first Test at Headingley.
"Captain Gill has registered records after records as a batter. If you see, in one match, scoring 200 in first innings and 150 [in the second], becoming the first batsman to do so. After Sunil Gavaskar Saab, scoring 200 in one innings and then 100. Captain's knock that he played, scoring 500-plus runs in four innings, first batter to do so. After Graham Gooch, becoming the first batter to score 430 runs in one match. Standing at No. 2. Left Brian Lara and other batters behind. He has made records tumble," he added.
The way he ran the game as a captain, that was great to watch: Pathan
Pathan was impressed by Gill's defensive technique and the hunger to score runs. He also lauded his mindset for answering some difficult questions, both on and off the field.
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"The composure he has shown, the way he has batted is commendable. Defence has been excellent, and the hunger to score runs was very evident in captain Gill's batting. However, the way he ran the game as a captain, that was great to watch. Because, the questions being raised about captain Gill, that 'You are captaining on a difficult tour, in the first match, you get opportunities two-three times to win, but you fail to capitalise, and then questions arise.' Then, there is another questions off the field. 'If Bumrah doesn't play, how will I give an explanation to the press?' 'If Bumrah doesn't play, how do I run the team?'" Pathan stated.
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