India made a brilliant comeback in the 5-match Test series, defeating England by 336 runs and leveling the series 1-1 in Birmingham. India’s new captain, Shubman Gill, answered his critics with both the bat and his leadership on the field. The young skipper impressed experts and legends alike with his composed captaincy, outplaying England in all departments.
The series began with huge doubts surrounding the new Indian team. Many fans and experts had predicted the outcome in favour of England, and India’s defeat in the first match at Headingley only fueled those doubts. However, Gill’s side bounced back in style to level the series, conquering Birmingham for the first time in Tests.
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Hussain Lauds Gill’s Calm Captaincy, Says “He’s Not a Kohli-Type Character”
The big talking point of the match was Shubman’s captaincy and his smart bowling changes. His influence on the batting unit was evident when he encouraged his players to score more once they had settled in.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain was among the experts who praised Gill’s leadership particularly his calm and composed nature. The England legend pointed out that Gill’s style is very different from that of Virat Kohli.
"He's always going to be calm and composed. You just listened to that interview. He's got a very low heartbeat. So he's not going to be a Kohli-type character. He's got a low heartbeat, but that can help. Look at this crowd here today. Look at all of India watching on. You may need someone just to calm the team,” Hussain said on Sky Sports.
Hussain on Headingley Loss: “It Felt Like No One Was in Charge”
Hussain also noted the criticism Gill received after the first Test defeat:
“I do think that was important. I do think he was more visible. It's very easy when you lose, you sort of blame the captain and say, 'Oh, he went missing.' And when you win, you go, 'Oh, he's a great captain.' But I do think just watching from up above, which we often do in a commentary box, at the Headingley game, there was a lot of input from a lot of people, and it was like, who's in charge?" he added.
“He Looked in Charge”: Hussain on Gill’s Field Placements and Presence
Hussain then praised Gill for taking full control in the second Test. His field placements and decision-making were clearly visible, with experienced players like KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant offering their input.
"You look down today, and he was in charge, and the camera often went on him, and he was moving fielders around. He still needs help from Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul or whatever, but he looked in charge," Hussain said.
The Test series now moves to Lord’s for the 3rd Test, which begins on Thursday, July 10, after a short break. With the series tied 1-1, the next match becomes a crucial one. India holds a strong recent record against England at Lord’s. Stay tuned for more updates on India’s tour of England 2025.
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