Shubman Gill has been a standout performer in India’s ongoing Test series in England, showcasing sublime form with the bat. His century at Headingley and a record-breaking ton followed by a double hundred in Birmingham powered India to a commanding 336-run victory in the second Test. However, his aggressive on-field demeanor, reminiscent of Virat Kohli, has sparked debate, with former England all-rounder Moeen Ali suggesting it may have ignited a fiercer response from England during the Lord’s Test.
Gill’s Aggressive Approach Draws Kohli Comparisons
Gill’s conduct, particularly at Edgbaston, echoed Kohli’s iconic century celebration at the same venue in 2018. His fiery exchanges with England’s Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett at Lord’s drew attention, with some believing it backfired. Despite his batting heroics, Gill managed only 16 and 6 in the third Test at Lord’s, where India fell 22 runs short of the 193-run target despite a late fightback led by Ravindra Jadeja and the lower order.
Moeen, currently playing for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Global Super League, commented, “My take is, it’s fine. I think he’s just trying to be competitive in front of a fight and very similar to Virat, I think it’s fine. But then, obviously the other team, what you’ve done is, I think you’ve actually brought out the best of England and the fight and that beast England can be.” He noted that Gill’s approach, while competitive, may have galvanized England, who now lead the five-match series 2-1.
Former Indian cricketers Sanjay Manjrekar and Mohammad Kaif also weighed in, suggesting that Gill’s verbal duels might have provoked England, potentially costing India at Lord’s.
Jadeja’s Batting Shines, Bowling Lags
Moeen, who shared the Chennai Super Kings dressing room with Jadeja in the IPL, praised the all-rounder’s batting contributions. “He just knows what he’s doing. I think he’s done it for many years. I think he’s been amazing with the bat this series,” Moeen said. However, he noted Jadeja’s lack of wickets, stating, “With the ball, he hasn’t quite got the wickets, but he does what he does. He’s very tight. He can bowl, but he’s not outstanding.” Despite Jadeja’s batting prowess, his bowling returns have been modest, raising questions about team selection.
Kuldeep Yadav’s Case for Inclusion
With India struggling to balance their bowling attack, Moeen echoed growing calls for Kuldeep Yadav’s inclusion in the XI. “I would like to see Kuldeep in the team, but I don’t know who for. Washington’s bowled well, Jadeja batted well. So it makes it difficult to bring Kuldeep Yadav in the side,” he said. The challenge of fitting the wrist-spinner into an already packed lineup remains a point of contention.
Lord’s Test: A Game of Fine Margins
Reflecting on the Lord’s Test, Moeen highlighted the challenging batting conditions. “At Lord’s, it can happen. Because there’s always something for the ball, even though the period where it looked easy for batting, there’s always a few periods where… it makes it a little bit difficult,” he said. He credited England’s first-innings total of 387 and their third-innings lead for securing the victory, noting that the fourth innings was particularly tough. KL Rahul’s resilient batting was a highlight for India, but England’s ability to navigate the tricky first morning and capitalize on key moments proved decisive.
Series Context and What Lies Ahead
Gill’s aggressive approach has added a layer of intensity to the series, but it may have awakened England’s fighting spirit. With England holding a 2-1 lead, India face an uphill task to level or win the series. As debates around Gill’s demeanor and team selection continue, the young batter’s ability to channel his aggression effectively could be key to India’s fortunes in the remaining Tests.
