Mature Shubman Gill was gorgeous vs England: Sunil Gavaskar on Headingley 127

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar lavished praise on Shubman Gill for his composed and mature century on Day 1 of the Headingley Test against England. On his Test captaincy debut, Gill remained unbeaten on 127, showcasing both poise and authority as he guided India to a dominant position.Speaking on Sony Sports, Gavaskar highlighted the 25-year-old's development as a batter and leader, calling his innings a reflection of how far he has come since his early days. Taking over at No.4 following Virat Kohli's retirement, and shouldering the added weight of captaincy, Gill responded with calm assurance at the crease.advertisementENG vs IND, 1st Test Day 1: Highlights|Report
"He's (Shubman Gill) looking absolutely gorgeous at the crease. That shot early on in his innings—playing straight down the ground—is not an easy one to execute. It showed just how well he was seeing the ball: the speed, the timing, the control—everything was spot on," Gavaskar said."We've seen him grow up in front of the camera—from the U-19 World Cup days to now anchoring a Test innings. Every time he walks out now, you can see how much more solid and mature he looks. Early on, he had a bit of a weakness around the off stump, often playing across the line and getting caught out. But now, he's much more assured," he added.India were cruising at 91 for no loss before a mini-collapse saw KL Rahul fall for 42 to Brydon Carse, followed by debutant Sai Sudharsan departing for a duck to Ben Stokes. Suddenly at 92 for 2, the momentum had shifted slightly, but Gill's arrival helped settle nerves.advertisementGavaskar pointed to how Gill handled the pressure brilliantly, first by absorbing the conditions and letting Yashasvi Jaiswal dictate the scoring. Once settled, Gill accelerated with purpose, bringing up his half-century in just 56 balls. Facing a quality England bowling attack—featuring Chris Woakes, Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse, captain Ben Stokes, and Shoaib Bashir—Gill stayed composed and unflustered.The former India opener was particularly impressed with Gill's range of shots and decision-making, noting that his technique around the off-stump had improved significantly. Straight drives, cover punches, and the well-timed flicks spoke of a batter in control of both his game and the match situation - which ultimately saw him finish his 140-ball century with a sublime cover drive.One moment that stood out was Gill's gesture after reaching his century—a small bow towards the Indian dressing room. Gavaskar praised the humility and meaning behind the act, saying it reflected the gratitude a player shows to those behind the scenes—the coaches, teammates, and support staff who prepare and push each other every day.'That little bow to the dressing room was a nice touch. It means so much, because those are the people you train with, run between the wickets with, and who've been part of your preparation. It was a gesture of appreciation—'thank you, guys, I wouldn't have reached here without you," Gavaskar added.Following Jaiswal's dismissal for 101, Gill took on the mantle of guiding the innings alongside Rishabh Pant, who added a brisk, unbeaten 65. By stumps, India had reached 359 for 3, firmly in control of the match.

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