India captain Shubman Gill may have fallen 20 runs short of breaking Sunil Gavaskar’s 54-year-old record of most runs in a single Test series, but he earned praise from the legend himself. Gavaskar, who scored 774 runs in 1971 against the West Indies, lauded Gill’s performance during the ongoing series against England, calling it an even bigger achievement than his own.
Gill was dismissed for 11 in the second innings of the fifth Test at The Oval, finishing the series with 754 runs. After the day’s play, Gavaskar presented Gill with a signed shirt and cap, celebrating his phenomenal run in his first Test series as captain. Speaking on Sony Sports Network, Gavaskar said, “He’s the captain. I was the team’s baby. My failure wouldn’t have mattered. But scoring 754 runs while leading the side is incredible.”
‘More than just numbers,’ says Gavaskar
Gavaskar stressed that the context of Gill’s runs matters more than the final tally. “Don’t go by those 20 runs. Just see what those 754 runs have done for Indian cricket,” he said. Gavaskar acknowledged that many have come close to breaking his record, but Gill’s performance, under pressure as skipper, stands apart.
In the five-match series, Gill showed consistency and flair, with centuries in Leeds, Edgbaston (twice), and Manchester. While the Lord’s Test didn’t go his way, he bounced back strongly. His runs were crucial in helping India take control of the series.
India near series victory
At the end of Day 3 of the final Test, India held the advantage. England were 50/1 in their second innings, chasing a target of 374 runs. With Chris Woakes ruled out due to injury, India require just eight wickets to wrap up the series, while England still need 324 runs to pull off a win. The contest remains intense as both teams head into a pivotal Day 4.
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