Shubman Gill’s performance in his first Test series as India captain is one that would go down in cricketing lore. He became just the third Indian after Sunil Gavaskar and Yashasvi Jaiswal to score more than 700 runs in a single series and even got within 20 runs of the former’s long-standing record for most runs scored by any Indian in a Test series. Gavaskar, who is part of the commentary panel for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, has said that while he may still hold the record, he holds Gill’s performance in this series above his own in 1971 against the mighty West Indies.
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Gavaskar’s record performance came despite the fact that he played in only four of the five Tests in that series. Even more astonishing is the reason behind why he didn’t play one match – he only made his international debut in the second Test. Gavaskar’s record performance is hence the returns that a debutant managed against the likes of Garry Sobers-led West Indies. The 76-year-old has now said that since he was only a debutant, there was a lot less pressure on him to deliver as compared to Gill, who has started his Test captaincy with this gruelling tour of England.
“The difference is that 754 came with the additional responsibility of being captain. I was the baby of the team. You know, it wouldn’t have mattered if I had failed,” said Gavaskar on Sony Sports Network.
“Nobody would have given a hoot if I had failed. But to be the captain and score 750-plus runs—750-plus runs where he’s making a difference to his side’s fortunes. Don’t go by those 20 runs, but just see what that 754 has done for Indian cricket.”
Gavaskar presented Gill with a signed shirt and a cap after Stumps on Day 3. “Well, yes, in anticipation of him going past my record, I had gotten something for him. This is all in God’s hands. But 754 runs, it’s fantastic. The difference is that 754 runs have come with him having the additional responsibility of being the captain,” said Gavaskar.
The video of Gavaskar’s presentation was posted on X by Sony Sports Network. “Well done! I’ve got a gift for you in anticipation of you going past (the record of most runs by an Indian batter in a Test series)… but at least you have something to aim for in the next series, yeah?” he could be heard telling Gill in the video. “This is just a little gift… a shirt with my ‘SG’ initials. Someone made it for me, but I’m giving it to you. I don’t know if it will fit you or not. This is a little cap, which I give to very few people, with my signature. All the best, God bless—and that last move was fantastic, setting a fielder there and bowling a yorker.”
Gill’s astonishing tour
Gill’s tally is also the second highest for a captain in any Test series, only 56 runs behind the record of 810 held by the legendary Don Bradman, who had scored that against England at home in the 1936/37 Ashes. Conversely, it is the highest score by any Indian captain in a Test series by a margin of of 22 runs – Gavaskar held the record previous for the 732 he scored in the six-Test series against the West Indies in 1978/79.
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The only Tests in which Gill failed to score centuries in this series were both in London – the third Test at Lord’s and the fifth Test at the Oval. Gill started the series by scoring a century on his captaincy debut. He scored 147 in his very first innings as the skipper, followed by a score of eight in the second innings. Gill then made merry in the second Test, scoring a record 269 in the first innings and 161 in the second as he powered India to a 336-run win at Edgbaston.
He then could only manage scores of 16 and six in the third Test and 12 in the first innings of the fourth before grinding out 103 runs off 238 balls as part of a match-saving effort with KL Rahul. Rahul and Gill batted out nearly 70 overs after which unbeaten centuries by Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar helped India draw the match. This was followed by the 21 and 11 he scored at the Oval.
