India skipper Shubman Gill is on the cusp of breaking a long-standing record as his team prepares to face England in the crucial fourth Test at Old Trafford on Wednesday, July 23. Shubman Gill ,the 24-year-old batting sensation has amassed 607 runs in just three matches during the ongoing series, including a mammoth 430-run haul in the second Test at Birmingham, where India triumphed by 336 runs.
With an astonishing average of 101.16 and a highest score of 269 at Edgbaston, Gill now needs just 25 runs to surpass former Pakistan star Mohammed Yousuf’s 19-year-old record of 631 runs—the most by an Asian batter in a Test series in England.
Yousuf set the benchmark during Pakistan’s 2006 tour of England, averaging 90.14 with a top score of 202 across four matches. Close behind are India’s Rahul Dravid (602 runs in 2002), Virat Kohli (593 in 2018), and Sunil Gavaskar (542 in 1979), highlighting Shubman Gill’s feat as one of the finest overseas performances by an Indian in recent times.
Despite his heroics, Shubman Gill faced criticism following India’s narrow 22-run defeat at Lord’s in the third Test. With England leading the five-match series 2-1, Team India will be eyeing a turnaround and hoping to script history by securing their first-ever win at Old Trafford. It was a match to remember as India fought hard at Lord’s on the final day when it seemed the game would be over long before. India eventually lost the game by 22 runs to concede England a 2-1 lead in the ongoing series.
India lost an enthralling thriller at Lord’s by 22 runs under Shubman Gill
From the time India lost four wickets in the first session on Day 5 of the third Test against England at Lord’s, the threat of a big defeat loomed large on Shubman Gill and co. At the start of the day, India needed just 135 with six wickets in hand but that target too looked humongous when the first session ended.
Then, came a lone-warrior effort from all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Despite him and the lower order giving it their all, India were so close yet so far to register a miraculous victory by being bowled out for 170 in 74.5 overs. For England, skipper Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer took three wickets each off bowling 24 and 16 overs respectively, while Brydon Carse had two scalps.
The India vs England Test series has been a toughly contested one, with neither side willing to give an inch in what is the start of the WTC 2025-27 cycle for both teams. But after 3 Tests, it is the home team that are 2-1 up and in a very strong position to win the series. The next Test gets underway from July 23 and it is a must-win game for the visitors, who know that a loss in the next Test means that the series win is beyond them.
But while many are seeing the odds as being insurmountable, one person in form of Suresh Raina thinks differently and has backed the Shubman Gill-led side to overcome the odds.
Shubman Gill has done well- Suresh Raina
Team India arrived in Manchester on Sunday for the fourth Test against England, starting on July 23. A heart-wrenching defeat at Lord’s has left them in a position where they can’t afford to lose the remaining two games. A victory at Old Trafford will help them level the series and keep it alive till they look to cross the last hurdle, at the Oval in London.
Old Trafford has been an unconquered fortress for India. They have played 9 matches and lost 5 of them, that too, with massive margins. With the series at stake, India will have to put their A game on display to remain in the hunt.
Former India cricketer Suresh Raina has thrown his weight behind the young Indian team, backing them to bounce back and win the ongoing Test series.
Speaking to ANI, Raina said :
“India won, then India lost, then won, then lost (talking about sessions during the Test series). However, as a player, Shubman Gill has done well. He has scored runs. Washington Sundar has done well. Jasprit Bumrah, I think his bowling was outstanding.”
Throwing his full support behind the Shubman Gill-led side, Raina expressed confidence in a turnaround.
“They will do it. They have that sense of desire, perseverance and determination. Gill will make his mark as a batter and as a captain. I think he has done really well,” he said.
The former all-rounder also praised KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant for stepping up in tough conditions.
“Then we saw how KL Rahul batted, offered some solidity as an opener and got good support from Yashasvi Jaiswal. Then Rishabh Pant, he has batted so differently and his wicketkeeping has been great,” he added.
Shubman Gill has been the standout performer for India so far, scoring 607 runs in six innings at an average of 101.16, including three centuries and a best of 269. His deputy, Rishabh Pant is the second-highest score of the series (425 runs in six innings), but his participation in the fourth Test is still in doubt.
Pant injured his finger while keeping wicket at Lord’s. He got hurt in the 34th over of the first innings and didn’t keep wickets thereafter. Though he walked out to bat in both innings, Dhruv Jurel replaced him behind the wickets.
It had been confirmed by India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate that left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who is yet to play a game in the series, suffered a cut that required stitches to heal. As such, his availability is all but confirmed as being null and void – but then news of another pacer being hit by an injury came to light.
Akash Deep, who played a key role in India’s lone series win thus far at Edgbaston, is reportedly dealing with a groin strain and may be unavailable for the Old Trafford Test. The sudden injury woes have seen the BCCI call upon Anshul Kambhoj as injury cover, and raises plenty of questions over the team combination ahead of the fourth Test.
It is indeed a bold prediction, especially when one considers the injury woes that have gripped the team ahead of the penultimate match of the series.
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