Tendulkar shares classy message for Jaiswal, Gill; Yuvraj grabs Smith’s attention after India captain achieves rare feat

By Admin

03 Jul, 2025

The new era of Indian Test cricket is off to a promising start, with young guns Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill rising to the occasion at Edgbaston. On Day 1 of the second Test against England, both batters delivered standout performances that not only steadied India’s innings but also silenced early doubts surrounding the team’s batting transition following the sudden retirements of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Jaiswal opened the innings with typical flair, crafting a fluent 87 that set the tone for India’s innings. His aggressive yet calculated approach blunted the English attack early, laying the foundation for a commanding total. Gill, taking on the crucial No. 4 spot vacated by Kohli, showcased maturity well beyond his years. He anchored the innings with an unbeaten 114*, guiding India to 310/5 at stumps on Day 1.

Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar was quick to recognize the young duo’s efforts. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Tendulkar wrote:
“.@ybj_19 set the tone from ball one. He was positive, fearless and smartly aggressive. @ShubmanGill was cool as ever, calm under pressure, solid in defence and in total control. Classy knocks from both. Well played, boys!”

What stood out even more was Gill’s ability to shoulder the additional responsibility of captaincy without letting it impact his game. His century was not just a statistical achievement but a statement   calm, calculated, and commanding. It marked his second consecutive century as Test captain, an elite milestone that caught the attention of none other than Yuvraj Singh.

“When responsibility calls, some rise and some soar!” Yuvraj posted on X. “@ShubmanGill just became one of the rare few to score consecutive hundreds as Test captain! A calm head, a bold bat and a hunger to lead by example @GraemeSmith49 would be proud of the company! #IndiaVSEng.”

With India already at a commanding 310/5 and Gill set to resume his innings on Day 2, the focus now shifts to pushing the total past 450. The absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who has been rested for workload management, makes it even more crucial for India to post a sizeable first-innings total to give their bowlers ample breathing room.

As India takes steady strides into a new chapter of Test cricket, the performances at Edgbaston suggest that the future is in capable hands. The blend of fearless strokeplay from Jaiswal and the composed leadership of Gill could very well define this generation of Indian cricket.