NEW DELHI: Former India batsman Yuvraj Singh has hailed Shubman Gill’s performance on the recent England tour as “unbelievable,” particularly given the doubts surrounding his ability in overseas conditions ahead of the five-Test series.
During the Anderson-Tendulkar Test series, Gill scored four centuries and emerged as the leading run-scorer with 754 runs. This made him the first Asian batter to surpass 700 runs in a Test series in a SENA country, helping India draw the five-Test series 2-2.
At just 25, Gill captained a young side on a challenging tour after veterans Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin retired from Test cricket in quick succession, leaving a leadership void.
“There were a lot of question marks over his overseas record. But the guy became captain and scored four Test hundreds. It’s just unbelievable how someone rises to the occasion when given responsibility,” Yuvraj told ICC Digital on the sidelines of the ’50 Days To Go’ Women’s Cricket World Cup event.
“I’m very proud of them. Even though the series was drawn, it’s a big win for us because it’s a young team. Playing well in England and proving yourself is never easy.”
Despite injuries to wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, Akash Deep, and Arshdeep Singh, and Jasprit Bumrah featuring in only three matches to manage his workload, India displayed remarkable determination, sealing a thrilling six-run victory in the fifth Test at The Oval to level the series.
Having mentored Gill, Yuvraj praised the team for embracing the challenge even in the absence of stalwarts Kohli and Rohit.
“It’s fantastic because a young team in England faces immense pressure. Filling the shoes of players like Kohli and Rohit isn’t easy, but these guys took it head-on,” he said.
He also lauded all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, whose marathon partnership secured a draw in the fourth Test at Manchester.
“The standout moment was India drawing that Test series. I haven’t seen such an effort in a long time—Washington and Jadeja both scoring hundreds to save a match,” Yuvraj added.
“That speaks volumes. Jadeja has been around for years, but for a youngster like Washington Sundar to step up and perform like that—it was incredible.”
