Follow UsShubman Gill, with his verbal volleys against England openers at the end of Day 3 of the Lord’s Test, grabbed the headlines. Some criticised him for going overboard and others called it unfitting for the character he has built over the years.
However, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting came in support of the new Indian skipper, saying that what Gill did was try to stand for his team and stamp his authority as a leader.
“That’s the captain standing up for his team. That’s a captain really wanting to show that it’s his team now and this is the way that we’re going to play the game, and also, I guess, wanting to give a little bit back,” Ponting was quoted as saying in ICC Review.
“That was a little out of character from what I knew from Shubman in the past. I am sure everyone that was there was watching it and I know you would know him quite well, that’s not what he’s generally like,” acknowledged the man with two ODI World Cups and two ICC Champions Trophies to his name as captain.
Gill will now lead the Indian team in the fourth match of the five-match series, beginning July 23 at Old Trafford in Manchester. It is a must-win game for India if they are aiming to win a Test series in England and the 18-year dry spell. England are leading the series 2-1.