Rising cricket star Shubman Gill has made a sensational start to his Test captaincy, drawing comparisons to Virat Kohli’s iconic 2018 Edgbaston performance.
Gill’s Captaincy Dream Start
Shubman Gill has hit the ground running as India’s Test captain, delivering a performance that has captured headlines. Despite the team’s overall result in the first match, Gill’s individual batting has been exceptional.
He began his captaincy tenure with a remarkable 147 runs in his first Test innings. Following this, he went on to score a masterful double century in the second match at Edgbaston.
Echoes of Virat Kohli’s 2018 Classic
This stellar early performance, especially considering previous questions about his Test batting record, has led former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel to draw a significant parallel. Patel compared Gill’s innings to Virat Kohli’s famous century at Edgbaston in 2018.
According to Patel, the way both batsmen celebrated their centuries reflected a striking similarity in the circumstances surrounding their innings. Both players faced considerable scrutiny and doubts over their form before these defining knocks.
Answering Doubters at Edgbaston
Virat Kohli’s struggles in England were well-documented after his tough 2014 tour, where he managed just 134 runs across 10 innings. By 2018, having taken over captaincy and established himself globally, Kohli returned to England with a point to prove.
He silenced his critics by scoring a magnificent 149 off 225 balls at Edgbaston, eventually finishing the series as the highest scorer with 593 runs in 10 innings. It was a dominant display that redefined his legacy in English conditions.
Similarly, Shubman Gill had faced a challenging period in Test cricket leading up to this series. His record outside Asia, particularly in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) nations, had been questioned. He was even dropped during India’s last Test series in Australia.
From ‘Prince’ to ‘King’
Parthiv Patel emphasized that both batsmen were under immense pressure to perform. “There were questions over his ability and skill,” Patel noted about Gill, echoing the doubts Kohli faced in 2018.
Both players, however, rose to the occasion and delivered unforgettable performances when it mattered most. As Patel succinctly put it, “Virat Kohli in 2018, Gill in 2025. He has got prince written on his bat but it will soon become King.”
- Shubman Gill scored 147 and a double century in his first two Test innings as captain.
- Former cricketer Parthiv Patel compared Gill’s innings to Virat Kohli’s 2018 Edgbaston century.
- Both players faced significant doubts about their Test form, especially in challenging overseas conditions.
- Kohli’s 2018 comeback in England was legendary, mirroring Gill’s current rise.
This early success suggests Gill is poised to become a dominant force in Test cricket, following in the footsteps of one of the game’s greats.
