From scepticism to admiration—former England captain Nasser Hussain has reversed his earlier criticism of Shubman Gill’s leadership following India’s historic 336-run win over England in the second Test at Edgbaston. The result helped India level the five-match series 1-1 and ended their long-standing winless streak at the venue.
From Doubter to Believer: Hussain’s U-Turn
After India’s defeat in the Leeds Test, Nasser had expressed doubts about Gill’s leadership, saying he lacked “on-field aura” and seemed overshadowed by senior players like KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant.
“It was like, who’s in charge? He didn’t quite have that on-field presence like Kohli or Rohit,” Nasser had said.
However, Gill’s calm yet assertive leadership in Birmingham forced Nasser to rethink. Speaking on Sky Sports post-match, he praised Gill’s tactical clarity and temperament:
“He’s not going to be a Kohli-type character. He’s calm, composed, has a low heartbeat—and that works. Today, he looked in charge,” Hussain noted.
Gill’s Captaincy Masterstroke: The Akash Deep Switch
One tactical move that stunned Nasser was Gill’s decision to switch Akash Deep’s bowling end on Day 5, even though the pacer had success from the other end the previous day.
“That was a subtle but brilliant move. Most captains wouldn’t have done that, and it worked like a charm,” Nasser admitted.
Akash Deep went on to claim 6 wickets in the second innings, wrapping up England’s chase and finishing with a 10-wicket match haul—his first in Test cricket.
Leading With the Bat Too
Nasser concluded by acknowledging that beyond captaincy, Gill did what mattered most: scoring big. The Indian skipper registered scores of 259 and 161, totaling 430 runs, the most by any captain in a single Test match.
“The most important thing is to get runs. That’s his No. 1 job, and he’s delivered massively.”
What’s Next?
- India head to Lord’s for the 3rd Test (July 10) with renewed momentum.
- Jasprit Bumrah returns, likely replacing Prasidh Krishna.
- England, feeling the heat, have expanded their squad and taken an extra rest day, signalling pressure in their camp.
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