Mark Butcher's Bold Take on Shubman Gill's Captaincy
Shubman Gill’s heroic performance in the second Test against England not only silenced critics but also helped India level the five-match series. Gill scored a magnificent 269 in the first innings and followed it with 161 in the second, becoming the first cricketer to score a double century and a 150 in the same Test match.
However, former England opener Mark Butcher said that the result could have been very different. Responding to Ravi Shastri’s comment on-air that England got away with their decision to bowl first, Butcher stated that had the same decision backfired for Gill, it might have been his last match as India’s Test captain.
India made bold changes going into the Edgbaston Test, resting Jasprit Bumrah and bringing in two batting all-rounders, a move seen by many as overly defensive. But Gill’s leadership and Akash Deep’s 10-wicket haul turned the narrative around, with India sealing a historic 336-run win — their biggest away victory in terms of runs.
Gill admitted he would have chosen to bowl too if he had won the toss, just like Ben Stokes. Fortunately, batting first turned out to be the better option, with India piling up 587 runs in the first innings, thanks largely to Gill’s record-breaking knock.
Butcher was impressed not just by Gill’s batting but also his composure as a leader. He highlighted the immense pressure that comes with captaining India, especially while batting at a position once held by greats like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. Despite this, Gill has shown calmness and control both on and off the field.
With 585 runs in four innings, Gill has firmly cemented his place in the series and potentially in the record books. His outstanding form has created serious problems for the English bowlers, especially in the middle order. As the series progresses, all eyes will be on how England plans to counter Gill’s dominant run.
Mark Butcher concluded by praising Gill’s temperament and technical skill, suggesting that if he continues this way, he could end the series with several new records to his name.