Gautam Gambhir Defends Shubman Gill Amid Criticism Following Fourth Test Draw

Gautam Gambhir Stands Up for Shubman Gill

Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of the Indian cricket team, has come to the defense of Shubman Gill following criticism aimed at the young captain after the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, Manchester, which ended in a draw.

This series marks Gill's debut as captain, and he has faced scrutiny, particularly after India's loss in the third Test at Lord's, where the team fell short by 23 runs, finishing at 170 while chasing a target of 193.

In the wake of that defeat, Gill was criticized for his leadership and on-field decisions. However, he silenced his detractors by leading India to a remarkable draw in the fourth Test.

Gill scored a brilliant century, helping his team recover from a challenging position after England established a significant 311-run lead in the first innings. India lost two early wickets, but Gill's partnership with KL Rahul, which yielded 188 runs for the third wicket, was pivotal. Rahul scored 90 runs, while Gill reached 103 before being dismissed by Jofra Archer.

Following their contributions, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar also scored centuries, forming an unbeaten partnership of 203 runs for the fifth wicket, resulting in India finishing at 425/4 when both teams agreed to a draw.

Gautam Gambhir's Strong Words for Critics

After the match, Gambhir expressed his frustration with those doubting Gill's abilities. He emphasized that anyone questioning Gill's talent lacks a true understanding of cricket.

“No one had any doubt on Shubman Gill’s talent. Those who had doubts, they only speak cricket but cannot understand cricket… Those who understand cricket know how talented Shubman Gill is. He is living up to his expectations and his own talent… When he goes in to bat, he goes as a batsman and not as a captain,” Gambhir stated.

#WATCH | #INDvsENG Fourth Test ends in a draw | On Captain Shubman Gill, Head Coach of the Indian Team Gautam Gambhir says, "No one had any doubt on Shubman Gill's talent. Those who had doubts, they only speak cricket but cannot understand cricket... Those who understand Cricket… pic.twitter.com/1lZDPvfx79

— ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2025

The final Test of the series is set to commence on July 31, with England currently leading the series 2-1. India aims to win this match to level the series.