Former Pakistani cricketer bows to Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj after their Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy heroics

Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has heaped praise on the Indian team for their spirited performance in the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, reserving special admiration for young skipper Shubman Gill. India may not have clinched the series, but coming from behind to draw 2-2 has earned admiration from fans and cricket experts across the globe.

What made India’s campaign especially remarkable was that they achieved this in the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, with Jasprit Bumrah only being available for a limited number of games. Shubman Gill, leading a very young team, stepped up and produced one of the best batting performances we've seen in a long time. Gill amassed 754 runs in the series, topping the charts, and in the process, notched up four centuries in SENA countries after previously having none. England coach Brendon McCullum named him the Player of the Series.

“Incredible — Test cricket at its absolute best,” Kaneria said, as quoted by TOI. “There’s nothing that compares to the demands of Test cricket. It tests every ounce of a player's physical and mental toughness over five days. This young Indian team, without Rohit and Virat, performed unbelievably under Shubman Gill’s leadership. He carried the team on his shoulders and scored over 700 runs; it’s simply outstanding.”

Siraj hailed for resilience; Akash Deep’s knock called the turning point

Danish Kaneria didn’t stop at just lauding Gill. He also reserved high praise for Mohammed Siraj, whose resilience and commitment helped India fight back when all seemed lost. Despite being under pressure after a series of missteps, including a dropped catch at The Oval, Siraj roared back into form with a match-winning five-wicket haul. “Mohammed Siraj is a true lionheart. His commitment to the team is unmatched,” Kaneria said. “To play all five Tests, all of which went the distance, and to bowl with the same intensity shows his incredible fitness and passion. He carried the pace attack on his shoulders.”

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Kaneria further credited key batting efforts in India’s series-leveling win. “The turning point, in my opinion, was Akash Deep’s 66. Those runs gave India a much-needed boost,” he remarked. “Jaiswal’s attacking century, along with late-order runs from Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, played a major role in sealing the win.”