'My partnership with KL Rahul ignited the spark' - Shubman Gill recalls India's valiant efforts to draw Manchester Test

Indian skipper Shubman Gill was one among the three centurions to light up the fifth day of the Manchester Test against England. The dramatic final day of the game at Old Trafford saw India draw the game, despite being in trouble early on. Gill led from the front and played a captain's knock while batting at No. 4 to pull the team out of trouble against the Ben Stokes-led side.

His record-breaking 188-run stand for the third wicket with experienced opener KL Rahul paved the way for India's fightback on Day 5. Rahul departed for 90, narrowly missing out on his third three-figure mark of the series, but Gill believes that it was this partnership which first helped the Indian side go neck-to-neck against a strong English attack on a tricky batting surface.

“From 0 for 2, then the partnership KL bhai and I had, I think that ignited [the spark] yes, we can achieve this task. Extremely happy. To be able to get a draw from the position we were in yesterday is extremely satisfying. This innings of mine was the most pleasing to me,” Gill told BCCI after the game.

After the departure of both Gill and Rahul, the situation once again seemed tricky, as India were yet to cross the deficit forced onto them by England. However, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja showed nerves of steel and faced whatever came at them with absolute focus. Gill says that the ball had started to misbehave, but the way the two left-handed batters played is exemplary.

“When Jaddu bhai and Washy were batting, it wasn't easy. The ball was doing something, but the way they calmly batted and got Test centuries from there tells you how big of an achievement it is,” the Fazilka-born said further.

We're great team: Gill

Gill further accepted that it was difficult to be batting for so long and keeping themselves stable, both physically and in terms of their mindset. The youngster believes that the difference in mindset as against England is what stood out for the Indian team, and it eventually was the reason that they were able to be successful in their cause.

“To be able to have the same mindset for 140-odd overs is very difficult. That's what is the difference between a good team from a great team. We showed today why we're a great team,” he concluded.

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The fifth and final Test of the series will start on July 31 at the Kennington Oval in London, with the series currently poised at 1-2 in England's favour.