Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has declared Shubman Gill’s impressive 754 runs in his debut series as India captain against England as more significant than his own record-setting 774 runs as a debutant in 1971.
Gavaskar’s Unique Perspective on Gill’s Feat
Shubman Gill’s recent performance, where he amassed 754 runs while leading India in his first Test series, has earned him high praise. Gavaskar, who holds the Indian record for most runs in a debut series with 774 against the West Indies, believes Gill’s achievement carries more weight.
According to Gavaskar, the crucial difference lies in the added responsibility Gill shouldered as captain. When Gavaskar made his debut, he was “the baby of the team” with minimal pressure, and “nobody would have given a hoot” if he had failed.
However, for Gill, scoring over 750 runs while leading the side and actively influencing the team’s success highlights the immense pressure and expectation he managed to exceed. Gavaskar emphasized that the impact of Gill’s runs on Indian cricket far outweighs any numerical comparison.
A Heartfelt Gesture and Encouragement
Following Gill’s stellar performance, Sunil Gavaskar presented him with a signed shirt and cap, a gesture of admiration and encouragement. Gavaskar shared that he had prepared the gift in anticipation of Gill potentially surpassing his record.
He humorously told Gill, “at least you have something to aim for in the next series.” The legendary batter conveyed his best wishes, acknowledging Gill’s fantastic effort and even praising a crucial tactical move made by the young captain during the series.
Gill’s Dominant Captaincy Debut
Shubman Gill’s 754 runs mark an astonishing debut as Test captain, making it the second-highest score by any captain in a Test series, trailing only Don Bradman’s 810 runs. For an Indian captain, this is the highest ever, surpassing Gavaskar’s previous record of 732 runs from 1978-79.
Gill began his captaincy with a bang, scoring 147 in his very first innings. He then followed up with a monumental 269 and 161 in the second Test, powering India to a dominant victory.
Though he faced a couple of lower scores in subsequent matches, Gill showcased resilience, particularly with a crucial 103 runs off 238 balls in a match-saving effort alongside KL Rahul. His consistent scoring placed him as only the third Indian, after Gavaskar and Yashasvi Jaiswal, to accumulate over 700 runs in a single Test series.
- Sunil Gavaskar rates Shubman Gill’s 754 runs as captain above his own 774 runs as a debutant.
- Gill’s performance is the highest by an Indian captain in a Test series, and second globally after Don Bradman.
- He became just the third Indian to score over 700 runs in a single Test series.
Gill’s debut as Test captain has set a new benchmark, proving his mettle not just as a batter but also as a leader under immense pressure.
