Shubman Gill Gets Massive Threat Ahead Of Test Series: "England Will Target Him, Knock Him Over"
Shubman Gill will be expected to excel not just as captain in the India vs England Test series, starting on June 20, but as a batter too. While Gill's performnace at home has been great, the same cannot be said about his overseas performance. While his overseas average is just 27.53 (716 runs in 15 games, 1 centry), at home it is 42.03 (1177 in 17 matches, 4 centuries). In the midst of this, Gill will be expected to lead India to its first series win in England since 2007.
Former England batter Nick Knight said that Ben Stokes ' men will target Shubman Gill in particular.
"I think that's going to be pretty crucial because every side, and England will do it. You can bet your bottom dollar, England will do it. No side is more vulnerable than when its captain is feeling a little under pressure and vulnerable. That has a huge impact on the whole dressing room, right? So England will target Shubman Gill. England will try and knock him over. England will try and make him feel uncomfortable," Knight told TOI.
"Because they'll feel that that might have a knock-on effect with those around him. So it's a huge series for Shugman Gill. Who, by the way, I am a huge fan of. And have been for a long, long time. I remember seeing Shubman at 18, 19 in an Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand. And I went, wow, this boy can play."
Knight also pointd out at a technical flaw in Gill's batting that the hosts will try to exploit.
"Well, when I've been out in India (for IPL commentary), I always highlight the same thing, really. Sometimes with Shubman, more so when you're sort of a little lacking in confidence and striving for things a little bit for your form, sometimes that front leg just pushes across a little bit too much. And, therefore, the rotation of the body and accessing the ball and playing around that front pad. But of late, I haven't seen that quite so much, if I'm brutally honest," Nick Knight told news agency PTI.
"...But it becomes more important when you've got a left-armer coming over the wicket and swinging it back into the pads. That's something that he will probably be always aware of. That line outside off stump, again, will be the challenge for all these top-order players, particularly in England."
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Hindustan Times
41 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
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IND vs ENG: From Tendulkar-Sehwag to Gill-Jaiswal! Day 1 of Leeds Test rewrites history books
Tendulkar-Sehwag and Gill-Jaiswal (Agency Photos) NEW DELHI: India's new era in Test cricket began with style, composure, and history on Friday as Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal both scored hundreds on the first day of the opening Test against England at Headingley. India ended a dominant day at 359 for 3, the third-highest first-day score by an Indian team at the start of an overseas tour. 300+ runs on the first day of a tour for India 399/3 vs SL, Galle, 2017 372/7 vs SA, Bloemfontein, 2001 359/3 vs Eng, Headingley, 2025 356/2 vs Pak, Multan, 2004 302/4 vs WI, North Sound, 2016 Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! It was only the third instance in Indian Test history where two batters scored centuries on Day 1 of an overseas tour. The other two? Tendulkar and Sehwag in Bloemfontein (2001) and Dhawan and Pujara in Galle (2017). Two Indian batters scoring 100s on the first day of a tour Sachin Tendulkar & Virender Sehwag vs SA, Bloemfontein, 2001 Shikhar Dhawan & Cheteshwar Pujara vs SL, Galle, 2017 Yashasvi Jaiswal & Shubman Gill vs Eng, Headingley, 2025 Like those iconic starts, this one may come to define a new generation of Indian cricket. Gill, leading India for the first time in Tests, delivered a captain's knock, a fluent, unbeaten 127. It was his first century outside Asia, achieved under the added pressure of stepping into a side without modern legends like Kohli, Rohit, or Ashwin for the first time in 14 years. Poll Do you think India can secure a series victory against England after this strong start? Yes, definitely! Maybe, it's still early. No, they will struggle. Jaiswal, meanwhile, struck a confident 101, becoming the first Asian opener to score a Test hundred at Headingley. His innings, marked by crisp off-side play and a flurry of boundaries, ended right after tea when Ben Stokes finally breached his defenses. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 75% off installation for LeafFilter LeafFilter Gutter Protection Learn More Undo Still, the pair's 176-run stand for the third wicket had already set the tone. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 14, watches in awe as Yashasvi Jaiswal celebrates century England, who had hoped to exploit early conditions after India wanted to bowl first, found little movement and even less discipline. Their pacers leaked runs all day, with captain Stokes (2/43) offering the only control. Rishabh Pant joined Gill late and ended the day with a typically attacking 65*, adding to India's imposing platform. As far as Day 1 statements go, India couldn't have asked for a better one to open the five-Test series.
