After India’s historic 336-run victory over England in the second Test at Edgbaston, former England captain Nasser Hussain revisited the remarks he made two weeks earlier following India’s defeat in the first Test at Leeds. Under the leadership of 25-year-old Shubman Gill, India secured a historic win in Birmingham on Sunday—marking their largest overseas Test victory and levelling the five-match series 1-1.
Earlier, after India’s loss in Leeds, Hussain had said Gill didn’t seem to have the same presence or leadership qualities as Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma. Nassir felt that Gill never looked like a leader on the field; he made his statement after receiving inputs from senior Indian players like KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant (vice-captain).
A Calm Leader for a Young Team
However, Gill’s calm and composed behaviour during the Edgbaston Test impressed Hussain. He admitted that Gill may not have the fiery personality of Kohli but believes his cool approach is what the current Indian team needs.
“He has a very calm nature. You could see him clearly leading on the field this time. He was setting fields and taking decisions and looked in control. Even though he still listens to advice from Pant and Rahul, he looked like the main man,” said Hussain during the post-match coverage.
Akash Deep Move Called a Tactical Masterstroke
One decision by Gill that stood out to Hussain came on the final day. Despite Akash Deep doing well from one end earlier, Gill changed his bowling end. It seemed like a strange choice, but it paid off brilliantly.
Akash Deep went on to take six wickets, dismantling the English batting order. Hussain admitted that it was a smart move not many captains would’ve made. “He did something unexpected that really worked. It was a smart tactical move,” Hussain said.
Captaincy With the Bat
Gill didn’t just shine as a leader but also delivered with the bat. Shubman Gill set a new record in the second Test against England, scoring 259 in the first innings and 161 in the second, becoming the highest run-scorer by an Indian captain in a single Test match. “The best way to lead is by scoring runs. Gill did just that,” Hussain concluded.
