Ever since Shubman Gill was handed the Test captaincy for India’s tour of England, the comparisons with Virat Kohli have been relentless. Critics said he lacked the fire, the aggression, the raw energy that made Kohli iconic. Some, like MP Shashi Tharoor, even voiced hope for Kohli to come out of retirement. But across five brutal Tests in England, Gill quietly rewrote the narrative, and maybe, just maybe, silenced the noise.
This was Gill’s first series as captain, and not an easy one. An away assignment in England is considered one of the toughest challenges in international cricket. India lost the opening Test, and experts were quick to write off the young captain and his side. But Gill wasn’t done.
In the very next match, he led from the front, scoring 269 in one innings and 161 in another. He wasn’t just showing form; he was showing fight. While he tried to channel the aggressive body language early in the series, Gill seemed to discover that composure and clarity suited him better. His calm, assured presence started reflecting in the team’s resilience too.
Though the series ended 2-2, a scoreline that might feel disappointing to some, context matters. India dominated long phases in nearly every Test but still could have easily lost the series 1-3 had they not fought back the way they did. Gill’s own tally of 774 runs was the second-highest ever by a captain in a Test series, only behind Don Bradman. For perspective, even Kohli lost his first Test series in England 1-4.
What’s more impressive? Gill didn’t win a single toss throughout the series. Yet, he managed to consistently bring the best out of his players. From Jaiswal’s hunger, Rahul’s maturity, Pant’s flair to Sundar and Jadeja’s grit, this team looked united and inspired. With Bumrah missing key games, Siraj stepped up big time. Even Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna delivered under pressure.
At 25, Shubman Gill’s captaincy career has only just begun. He won’t always get it right—but this series showed he belongs in that leadership chair. The comparisons with Kohli may continue, but Gill has carved his own space already, with his bat, his temperament, and his team.
Shubman Gill didn’t roar. He simply delivered.
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