Shubman Gill’s captaincy was a highlight in the fifth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at The Oval in 2025.
His leadership played a key role in India’s impressive comeback against England. Even though India lost the toss for the fifth time in a row something that hardly happens Gill stayed calm and led his team with confidence.
On the second day after lunch, England’s openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, started strongly. They scored 92 runs together without losing a wicket. To break this partnership, Gill made a smart choice. He moved his fielders closer to the batsmen.
This put pressure on the English batsmen, telling them that they needed to play well or risk losing their wickets. The strategy proved effective as bowlers Mohammad Siraj and Prasidh Krishna claimed key wickets, notably dismissing Ollie Pope and Joe Root. Because of this, England only managed 247 runs in their first innings, keeping the game within India’s reach.
By the end of the day, India had scored 75 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in their second innings, giving them a lead of 52 runs and putting them in a strong position in the match. Michael Vaughan, a former England captain, praised Gill’s smart decisions and his ability to read the game well.
Vaughan also pointed out that England was at a disadvantage, as Chris Woakes, their all-rounder, was injured and could not bowl. This made things harder for England and gave India an extra edge.
Gill’s leadership is even more impressive because he only has a little experience as a captain. He managed a mostly young Indian team and still led confidently.
Gill also shone with the bat, setting a new record for the most runs scored by an Indian captain in a single Test series, surpassing the previous mark held by Sunil Gavaskar. Even when small mistakes happened, like a run-out, Gill stayed calm and continued making smart choices.
Overall, Shubman Gill’s captaincy balanced bold moves with careful planning. He helped his team stay focused and positive under pressure, using tactics that put England on the back foot. Many experts now view him as one of the most promising and effective young captains in world cricket today.