Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has reserved special praises on Shubman Gill’s leadership as India began their third Test against England at Lord’s on Thursday. After the defeat in the series opener at Headingley, several former cricketers, including Nasser Hussain, had raised concerns over the clarity in India’s leadership. However, Gill’s young side responded emphatically, scripting a historic win at Edgbaston to level the five-match series 1-1.
Gill led from the front in Birmingham, amassing 430 runs — the most by an Indian in a single Test — including a double century and a ton. He had also scored a century at Headingley, his first in England and his first as captain.
Present at Lord’s, Tendulkar lauded the 25-year-old’s temperament and on-field presence, noting how his batting has enhanced his decision-making.
“He’s been good. He’s very calm and composed and I strongly believe that how the rest of the 10 players also react to whatever decision he has taken has been measured decisions, well thought of. His batting is complementing that as well because if a captain is in good form, it makes a huge difference on decision making. You need to be in the right frame of mind to make those important calls. He’s been batting brilliantly,” Tendulkar told Star Sports.
The master blaster also acknowledged Gill’s solid technique and India’s strong comeback in the series.
“As an opposition, normally, you know they look to find weak areas in your batting. When your technique at this point of time has been remarkable. Whatever I have seen, it’s been special. I am very happy you know the way we came back in the series in the second Test match after that disappointment in the first Test match,” he added.
Earlier, Tendulkar rang the iconic five-minute bell to begin day one of the Lord’s Test between India and England on Thursday. The five-match series, being played for the trophy named after Tendulkar and James Anderson, is level at 1-1.
Tendulkar, accompanied by his wife Anjali, waved to the crowd at Lord’s before doing a namaste and ringing the bell to kickstart the proceedings in a crucial game for both teams. The ringing of the bell by cricketing legends outside the bowlers’ bar at Lord’s is a tradition started in 2007 and has been previously carried out by legendary Indian players like Sunil Gavaskar, Sourav Ganguly, and Rahul Dravid.