Latest news with #Border-GavaskarTrophy2020-21
India Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
Shubman Gill's big Test: Leadership lessons from Graeme Smith's historic England tour
India are about to embark on a new chapter in their cricketing history as captain Shubman Gill officially takes charge of the Test team from June 20 for the five-match Test series against England. The 25-year-old has been entrusted with the leadership duties following the retirement of captain Rohit has become the fifth-youngest Indian Test captain and will face a herculean task of leading the team in England. As the prince of Indian cricket gears up for his Test captaincy debut, he can draw inspiration from legendary South Africa skipper Graeme Smith, who took to leadership like a fish to water, during testing times for his was crowned South Africa's captain after their 2003 ODI World Cup debacle, taking over the leadership mantle from Shaun Pollock. The 22-year-old became the youngest captain from his country and also faced a similar challenge of touring England for just his second series. Facing a daunting task of leading his team in a foreign land where the local media is known for going after the touring sides, Smith led his team from the front, scoring a magnificent double hundred in the very first Test in Birmingham. He followed it up with another double ton in the second game at Lord's but this time in a winning cause, which also earned him the Player of the Match Gill emulate Smith's batting heroics?Throughout the series, Smith rose to the occasion whenever his team needed him and was instrumental in turning the game in their favour with both his bat and tactical brilliance on the field. As a result, South Africa managed to draw the series 2-2 and Smith was adjudged Player of the series for scoring 714 runs from nine there's a lot Gill can learn from Smith, as he embarks on his journey as Test captain. When the Proteas legend was made the skipper, he was met with widespread censure as critics felt he was 'too young' and underprepared for the role. Similarly, Gill's appointment has also been met with similar criticism, mainly due to his poor returns outside of Asia. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Team India (@indiancricketteam)Apart from his debut series in Australia during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21, Gill has failed to live up to the expectations of the fans and pundits as he hasn't had a single fifty-plus score in overseas conditions since the 13 Test matches (24 innings) the Punjab-born cricketer has played outside of Asia, he's accumulated just 559 runs at an average of 25.40 with two fifties to his name (both in 2021). As a result, his overall Test numbers have also been badly affected as he has 1893 runs to his name from 32 matches (59 innings) at an average of 35.05 with five hundreds and seven fifties.A herculean task to manage seniorsadvertisementApart from his batting woes, Gill also faces the challenge of managing a team full of several senior players. Likewise, Smith also had to manage veterans such as Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs, Shaun Pollock, among others. However, he passed the Test with flying colours, making the team gel as a unit and take the fiercest of opposition with the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul in the team—both of whom have previously captained India—it won't be an easy task for Gill to marshal his troops. However, he will need to find a middle ground between authority and camaraderie to lead the team forward while maintaining amicable relations with everyone.A defining chapter beginsThe prince of Indian cricket is ready to usher the team into the dawn of a new era, but will face several sets of challenges in his path, which will turn out to be the real test of his character. He will have to take a leaf out of Smith's book to succeed in what would be the toughest phase of his career so the end of his career, Smith managed to etch his name in history books as the most successful skipper (in terms of wins) in Test cricket, having led South Africa to 53 wins. While there's no guarantee that Gill will also finish his career with such prodigious numbers, the youngster does have the fire in his belly to take Indian cricket to new Gill walks out for the toss for the first Test against England in Headingley, his every move will be scrutinised. The 25-year-old has a lot riding on his shoulders and needs to be prepared for the storm that lies ahead of him.
India Today
31-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Karun Nair for No.3? Comeback star hits statement double hundred vs England Lions
India's Karun Nair was given a standing ovation at the St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury after he reached his double hundred while playing against England Lions on Saturday, May 31. Karun, on his return to the Indian Test team, gave a tremendous audition for the No.3 spot, completing his double century in 272 in the morning session of Day 2, in the 101st over of the match, Karun pulled pacer Eddie Jack for four, reaching the milestone. This also helped India cross the 450-run mark against England Lions, setting up a daunting total for them in the first tour game of the sense of calm prevailed inside Karun after reaching his double century. Neither did he let out a roar, nor did he jump up high in the sky. He simply stepped down the pitch, removed the helmet and kissed the Indian flag, probably thanking cricket for giving him a second everyone gets a second chance! But when you do make it count, like #KarunNair!The Indian batter roared back in style with an unbeaten 186 against ENG A which helped IND A finish at 409/3 at the end of Day 1!Watch Day 2 of Unofficial Test #ENGAvINDA | SAT, 31st Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 31, 2025 India A started off their day in style with both Karun and Dhruv Jurel looking in great touch. Jurel, who finished the Indian Premier League in tremendous form, played some beautiful straight drives to race to 94. The batter failed to convert his innings to a much-deserved century, edging the ball to the first slip in the 95th over of the game. advertisement The duo added 195 runs between them in just 234 balls, setting India up for a massive total in the first tour game. After the dismissal of Jurel, all-rounder Nitish Reddy came out to bat, but was not able to have a big impact on the game. After Nitish's dismissal, Shardul Thakur, one of India's heroes in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21, dished out some lusty blows against the Lions. He hit his shots with disdain, sending panic into the opposition's bowling on the other side, remained calm, unbothered by Shardul's belligerence as India had fun in the second half of the morning session on Day 2 of the unofficial Test Audition for No.3The batter has put himself in the forefront for the No.3 position in the England series. Nair's maturity and able to keep the team stable in the morning hours could turn out to be of huge asset to India, who would be looking for some experience in the top to the retirement of Virat Kohli, it is likely that Shubman Gill will push himself down to the No.4 position, which will leave the No.3 spot empty in the team. In case India open with KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal in the Test matches, Nair is likely to trump Sai Sudharsan for that Nair's Ranji Trophy 2025advertisementThe double hundred against England Lions was not an isolated incident. Karun Nair has raked up runs for Vidharbha coming into this seized the opportunity with Vidarbha in the tournament, hitting 863 runs in nine matches at an average of 54. That included four hundreds and two fifties. One of those centuries came in the final, against none other than Kerala, helping Vidarbha lift the title. In the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy, Karun smashed 779 runs in eight innings, including five Watch
India Today
08-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Shubman Gill's fitting tribute to Rohit Sharma: Will remember your learnings forever
Young India batter Shubman Gill paid a fitting tribute to Rohit Sharma following his retirement from Test cricket. The India Test captain hung up his boots on May 7 ahead of the upcoming tour of England. Following Rohit's retirement, wishes came pouring in for the opening batter for his excellent Gill also congratulated Rohit for his remarkable career and said that the country is grateful for his contribution to the game. He also thanked the India captain for all the lessons, praising him as one of the best captains he's played is grateful for what you've done in tests as a player and a captain. You've been an absolute inspiration to me and everyone that has played with or against you. There are things I've learnt from you that I'm going to remember forever. Happy retirement to @rohitsharma45 one of the best captains that I've played under. Thank you Cap!,' wrote Gill in his Instagram story. Shubman Gill Instagram Story (Source: Shubman Gill Instagram) Rohit and Gill opened together for 18 innings in Tests and scored 611 runs together at an average of 35.94, stitching four half-century partnerships. Their highest partnership of 74 came against Australia in Sydney during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21. There was a time when Gill was enduring poor form in Tests after his initial success in he got the backing from Rohit Sharma during the England series in 2024 and repaid the faith by finishing as the second-highest run scorer of the rubber with 452 runs from nine innings at an average of 56.50. Meanwhile, following Rohit's retirement, Gill is being seen as his successor as the skipper of the Test format. The 25-year-old has played 32 matches and scored 1893 runs at an average of has the experience of leading Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and is enjoying a golden run in the ongoing season as they comfortably sit at the top of the table with 16 points from 11 updated on IPL 2025 with India Today! Get match schedules, team squads, live score, and the latest IPL points table for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Plus, keep track of the top contenders for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap. Don't miss a moment!
