The third day of the fifth Test in the five-match Test series between England and India at the Kennington Oval was built with an anticipation of the Indian captain Shubman Gill breaking the record of Sunil Gavaskar, who has the most runs for India in a red-ball series. Gill finished 20 runs short of the record, where Gavaskar got 774 runs in the West Indies.

Shubman Gill has now topped the list of most runs for a visiting captain in a Test series, overtaking Garry Sobers’ 722 runs in 1966. The Punjab-born became the first visiting captain to hit four Test centuries in a series. At Edgbaston, he thumped the second most runs in a Test match with 430, under Graham Gooch’s 466 runs.

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‘You know, in anticipation of him going past my record, I got something for him. But, I mean, this is all in God’s hands. However, 754 runs is fantastic. The difference is that the 754 runs have come in addition to the captaincy. Mine was different. I was a baby in the team. It would not have mattered. If I failed, nobody would have given a hoot about me.’ Sunil Gavaskar expressed on Sony Sports.

Watch: Sunil Gavaskar comments on Shubman Gill’s 754 runs during ENG vs IND 2025 Test series

‘But to be the captain, and score 750+ runs, and those 750+ runs are making a difference to his side’s fortune. That was special. Don’t go by those 20 runs. Just see what those 754 runs have done for Indian cricket.’ He added on the Indian captain, who became the first player to hit a double century and a 150+ score in a Test match.

Sunil Gavaskar about Shubman Gill's 754 runs series.#SunilGavaskar #ShubmanGill #INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/vVQOkZYq7A

— R 🤍 (@cricketnbooks) August 3, 2025

Gill became the fourth player to hit 700+ runs in a Test series without a fifty. His 269 runs at Edgbaston were also the highest score for an Indian captain in the longest format. Gill is also the third Indian captain to hit twin centuries in a Test match, along with Gavaskar and Virat Kohli.

Gill became the fifth player to score a double in Tests and ODIs, and he now has the highest individual score of 269 at number four. He also ended as the third Indian captain to hit twin centuries in a Test match alongside Gill and Gavaskar.

Just after Mohammed Siraj bluffed Zak Crawley with an over-pitched delivery broke the stumps at the end of the third day’s play during the fifth Test of the five-match series between England and India at Kennington Oval in South London, Shubman Gill, India’s captain, was walking back to the dressing room, when he met the former captain, Sunil Gavaskar.

Shubman Gill narrowly missed out on breaking an iconic record with the bat for Indian cricket, but he had already scripted a memorable period for the Blue Brigade in the series. The cameras found the heartwarming moment when Gavaskar gifted Gill a signed cap and shirt as a gesture of respect and love towards the youngster.

See Also: Top 5 successful Test run chases at Kennington Oval in last 100 years

‘This is a little cap, which I give to very few people with my signature.’ Gavaskar told Gill as he handed over a shirt and cap to the Punjab-born before promising him to wear his lucky jacket for the fourth and potentially the last day of the series, as India eye to draw the series by a 2-2 margin.

Watch: Sunil Gavaskar meets Shubman Gill for special priceless gift

Gill finished the series with 754 runs in 10 innings, falling just 21 runs short of Gavaskar, who still holds the record for the most runs scored for the side in the red-ball series. However, it was incredible from the Indian captain, especially after he replaced Rohit Sharma as the new leader of the side after his retirement, along with taking the number four spot of Virat Kohli.

A wholesome moment between Shubman Gill & Sunil Gavaskar 😍#SonySportsNetwork #ENGvIND #NayaIndia #DhaakadIndia #TeamIndia #ExtraaaInnings | @ShubmanGill pic.twitter.com/2wYhLiMCAR

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) August 2, 2025

The only place where Gill struggled was in London, which is why his numbers were not exciting during the two games at Lord’s and Oval. Otherwise, he smashed centuries at Leeds and Old Trafford besides drilling a fine double century to mark India’s 336-run victory at Edgbaston.

India set a huge target of 374 runs for the Ollie Pope-led side. The home openers nearly saw them through the day with a 50-run stand, before Siraj injected new life and energy in the team with Crawley’s wicket as they eye to earn their third victory at this venue to draw the series and walk off the trip with their heads high.

It was late in the evening session of the second day during the fifth Test between England and India at the Kennington Oval when the management sent Akash Deep as the nightwatchman in place of the touring captain, Shubman Gill, who was next in the line-up after the dismissal of Sai Sudharsan. But he was a vital member of the side, especially after going through such a fine series with the bat. 

Many expected Gill to arrive at the crease in the first 30 minutes of the third day. But a half-century from Akash Deep meant the Punjab-born had just 10 minutes to survive before the lunch break. The first three balls were turned down before he latched onto the short and wide ball to smack it through the point region for a boundary.

See Also: Who is the Jofra Archer lookalike seen fielding as a substitute on Day 3 of the ENG vs IND 5th Test?

Just two balls before the end of the first session, the right-handed batter creamed the drive through the covers against Josh Tongue for another four. Many expected the batter to put up another huge knock in the innings. But he couldn’t survive after the break, more than one delivery.

Watch: Shubman Gill trapped LBW on 11 during ENG vs IND 5th Test at Kennington Oval

On the very first ball of the second session, England sent back the batter for 11 runs in nine balls. It was a nip backer from Gus Atkinson as the batter planted his front leg a long way across the bat, and then the pad became the impediment for the bat to come through with the ball angles inwards. The umpire raised his finger as Gill walked back to the pavilion after burning a review.

First ball after lunch! ☝

Atkinson traps Gill infront! 👏

🇮🇳1⃣8⃣9⃣-4⃣ pic.twitter.com/hRZvMQ2YvJ

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 2, 2025

He ended the series as the second leading run-getter for India in a red-ball series with 754 runs. Sunil Gavaskar remained at the top with 774 runs in 1971 against the West Indies. He also finished as the second leading run-getter as a captain in a Test series, under Don Bradman, who got 810 runs in 1963/67 for Australia.

However, it had been a great series for the batter, who replaced Virat Kohli at number four and became the new captain of the side, in place of Rohit Sharma.

Shubman Gill soaked up the applause and celebrated his fourth century of the five-match series against England during the fourth fixture at Old Trafford in Manchester. But India would have loved to see their captain be at the crease for a longer period, at least for another hour till the second new ball gets old.

In most cases, a celebration of any landmark or the period where the breaks come, players tend to lose concentration. This series has become a routine. Whether it’s the Tea break or lunch, India have lost wickets out of nowhere, and it continues in Manchester as Gill got an outside edge to Jofra Archer into the hands of the wicket-keeper.

See Also: [WATCH] Former India star reflects on Shubman Gill and KL Rahul's partnership in ENG vs IND 4th Test in Manchester

Earlier, the Punjab-born had already got one chance when an uppish drive to Ben Stokes was nearly caught by Ollie Pope, who timed his jump rightly, but the speed of the delivery burst through the soft fingers of the Surrey batter. Later, a nothing ball, short and wide, got the outside edge of Gill, who went back to the shades for 103 runs in 238 balls.

Watch: Jofra Archer dismisses Shubman Gill during ENG vs IND 4th Test in Manchester

It could have been a disaster for the visitors who had nearly lost Ravindra Jadeja on the very next delivery. The southpaw got an outside edge into the slip region, as fortunately, Joe Root dropped the catch after three juggles on his hand. It was nearly a replica of the fourth day when they lost both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan on successive balls.

Jofra Archer gets the BIG wicket of Shubman Gill 👊

India four down!

🇮🇳 2️⃣2️⃣3️⃣-4️⃣ pic.twitter.com/EmmbbQT0JP

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 27, 2025

India lost KL Rahul early in the morning session. The ball from Ben Stokes didn’t bounce as the batter expected and was hit on his knee. The fast bowler went for cerebral while Rahul didn’t even bother thinking of a review, which could have been dead, hitting the middle of middle stump.

India would look to take a lead in the third innings and take some time out of the contest. They are still not in the driver’s seat, but if they can show resilience and grit with the bat in the two sessions, they can keep the fifth Kennington Oval Test in South London alive.  

The former Indian batter, Sanjay Manjrekar, has given a stern warning to the young touring captain, Shubman Gill, on his understanding between the two characters of Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni as he looks to put feet on a long-lasting career as the leader of the country in the longest format. 

Manjrekar feels that Shubman Gill suddenly looked tentative on the evening session of the fourth day between England and India at Lord’s when the England players came hard at him with a mouthful of words. The former player reminded with a warning that Virat Kohli used to perform better in those situations while MS Dhoni used to love the calmness, and it would be important for Gill to choose one of these two.

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‘Gill, suddenly looking tentative last evening, had a lot to do with the hostility he got at the crease from England. Virat performed better, the angrier he got. Dhoni is the exact opposite. Gill must decide what gets the best out of him as a batter, calmness or anger.’ Manjrekar expressed in a post shared on his Twitter handle (formerly known as Twitter).

Sanjay Manjrekar warns Shubman Gill during the ENG vs IND 2025 series

Manjrekar’s statement came after Gill looked to get out of his routine that he showed during the first couple of games at Leeds and Edgbaston to earn success. In the opening game at Headingley, he smashed 147 runs in the first innings. Behind India’s 336-run victory in Birmingham, the right-handed batter drilled 269 runs in the first innings before carrying the momentum in the second innings with a 150+ run knock.

Gill suddenly looking tentative last evening had a lot to do with the hostility he got at the crease from England. Virat performed better, the angrier he got. Dhoni the exact opposite. Gill must decide what gets the best out of him as batter, calmness or anger.

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) July 14, 2025

However, he looked completely different in the second innings of the Lord’s. On the first couple of balls, he was not sure how to deal with the situation. Three balls later, he smashed a fine drive against Brydon Carse through covers for a boundary. He missed a straight ball that just swung away to nearly smell the outside edge.

Gill had a poor game in London, but that was enough for him to overtake Rahul Dravid as the highest run-getter for an Indian in a Test series in England. As Manjrekar suggested, it will be important for the youngster to know how to deal with the situation in Manchester and the Oval.

The former India wicket-keeper batter, Dinesh Karthik, has dropped a bombshell chat he had with the ex-captain of the national side, Virat Kohli, on how the captaincy developed him in the five-day format. Karthik expressed that the pleasure of the Delhi-born came from leading the national side. He reckoned that the same character matches with Shubman Gill’s maiden series as captain.

Virat Kohli retired from the five-day format this year, just a few weeks before the start of the away England series. He gave up captaincy in January 2023, after allowing Rohit Sharma to take over the role across formats. The latter retired a few days before Kohli hung up his boots. This made way for Gill to start his tenure during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy as they leveled the series 1-1 during the second Edgbaston fixture.

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You spoke about Virat Kohli. I met him a few days ago, and this talk about captaincy came up. He said, ‘People think, I’m a great Test cricketer. I enjoyed my Test batting, which I did, but the fact is that getting my captaincy was the best thing to happen in my life.’ Why I am saying this is that the same line was used by Shubman Gill.” The renowned commentator said in a Sky Sports podcast at Lord’s.

Watch: Dinesh Karthik reflects on Virat Kohli’s captaincy

Virat has celebrated the fourth-most runs in red-ball history as captain with 5864 runs in just 113 innings at an average of 54.80, thanks to his 20 centuries and 18 half-centuries. Under his tenure between 2014 and 2022, there was hardly any period when he didn’t rescue India from a struggling position. That’s the same scenario with Gill, who increased his average from 35 to 42 as captain.

“He said ‘I used to bat differently, but now that I’ve got captaincy, I almost think this is what my team requires, rather than me wanting to do something individually as a batter.’ I said Wow, this is something for which the world of cricket has to take notice. Here is a man who has the appetite, he’s got the skill, he’s got the technique, but now he’s got the mindset as well. I’m the captain, I’m going to lead from the front, lead off the front foot.” Karthik leaked the conversation with the former RCB captain.

Dinesh Karthik: I met Virat Kohli a few days ago — he said, 'Getting Test captaincy was the best thing to happen to my batting.' pic.twitter.com/8P5sOO0qrn

— Gaurav (@Melbourne__82) July 8, 2025

Gill has so much responsibility on his shoulders. Currently, he has 585 runs in two Tests at an average of 146.25, thanks to two centuries and one double century, becoming the first Test batter to cross 250 and 150 in the same game.

The former India coach, Ravi Shastri, recalled his first experience of watching the current captain, Shubman Gill, bat in the nets. He was impressed with the batters’ pull shot and how he was whacking the short balls so young in his career. That was the time when he decided to bring the Punjab-born straightaway into the squad, after a little discussion with the batting coach and the selectors.

Shastri also felt that Shubman Gill, who gives a mirror image of Virat Kohli, should follow the latter’s training session. He also reckoned that having seen Sachin Tendulkar from a close distance early in the career for Mumbai and the National side, and Kohli during his coaching tenure, Gill has impressed him the most.

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“I saw him in the nets and Raghu bowls at 160 kmph, because he bowls slingy, and this guy (Gill) whacking him. I didn’t see an Indian player pulling in that fashion. After Kohli, his fellow (is there). And this guy should watch Kohli and how he trained and everything he did.” The former India all-rounder expresses during a live session with Sky Sports Cricket at Lord’s. 

Watch: Ravi Shastri recalls Shubman Gill’s first net session

Gill didn’t make a great start to his red-ball career with an average of 35 before coming into the England series. Despite making a fine 90 against Australia at the Gabba during the BGT 2020-21, he didn’t get his feet in the longest format until getting the leadership responsibilities four weeks ago.

“I called our batting coach, Vikram Rathour, who is from Punjab. I said, Who is this guy, man? Bring him to the mix, immediately. We spoke to the selectors, and he came in pretty quickly. You know he has done well in U-19, but when I first time when I saw him, I thought this is the class. I have seen Tendulkar, who caught your imagination; Kohli, of course, for captaincy, and then this guy.” Shasti was addressed during the same interaction.

Ravi Shastri on when he saw Shubman Gill for the first time in the nets. pic.twitter.com/1BcVaJLT02

— Kaushik Kashyap (@CricKaushik_) July 7, 2025

Gill started the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 with a fine knock of 147 at Leeds before carrying the same form during the second Edgbaston fixture. In the first innings, the right-handed batter nailed 269 runs while in the second, he thumped 161 runs, becoming the first batter in the history to get a 250+ and 150+ score in the same Test.

The first Test at Headingly has ended in an embarrassing defeat for India. What's even more disturbing to know is that India became the first team ever to lose a Test match even after scoring five individual hundreds. Much of their downfall can be attributed to the poor performance of their lower order, who went down without offering a fight.

Only once before did a team manage to lose a Test with four centuries. That record belonged to Australia from the 1928 Ashes Test up until now. Amidst the adversary, India's top order stood tall in both innings. Jaiswal, Gill, and Pant were the three centurions from the first innings, with Gill being the highest contributor, scoring 147 off 227. Pant starred again in the second innings, notching up an enthralling century (118 off 140) while Rahul also got to his century, scoring a breathtaking 137. 

Despite the sheer brilliance from the Indian top-order batters, India failed to get a sufficient lead, allowing England to script their second-highest run chase in Tests.

See also: HUGE! India claim an embarrassing record in the Headingly Test

So how did it all go wrong in the first place?

Contrary to the end result, Indian batters started off positively and ended proceedings on day one with a staggering score of 358-3. Jaiswal and Gill had punctured the inexperienced bowling attack while Pant terrorized them with his unorthodox strokeplay. But complacency crept in on day two following the dismissal of the Indian skipper. Gill's departure triggered an unprecedented batting collapse as India lost their last seven wickets for 41 runs and were prematurely bowled out for 471. 

A similar pattern was observed on the fourth day as well. India seemed to be cruising along nicely when Pant and Rahul were at the crease. The duo dragged India from a tricky situation of 92-3 and put on a massive 195 runs for the fourth wicket to help India steady the ship. But once the second new ball was taken by England, India lost their composure. After the end of the partnership, India lost their remaining six wickets for only 33 runs to get bundled out for 364. Josh Tongue devastated the tourists by picking up three wickets inside an over to help England roll over the visitors without taking too much damage. 

Tasked with chasing a fourth innings score of 371, England batted a little over three sessions and got to their target eventually with five wickets in hand. Duckett top-scored for England and laid the foundation for a record-breaking run chase for his side by scoring 149.

The highly anticipated five-match Test series between India and England is about to get underway on June 20 at Leeds. The Indian team is equipped with a proportional blend of youth and experience and will be led by a new captain in the form of Shubman Gill. Ahead of the first Test, the Indian spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar offered words of inspiration to his Tamil Nadu teammate Sai Sudharsan, who has been drafted in this tour to represent India in whites for the first time. 

See also: ENG vs IND: India's first XI revealed! Gautam Gambhir praised 3 players particularly

Washi's praise for Sudharsan goes viral

During a close interaction, Sundar was impressed to see how Sudharsan advanced in his cricketing career and improved his game over the years. The 25-year-old admitted that he has only gotten better in the last three to four years and that trend is likely to continue in the years to come. 

Sudharsan, in response, thanked Washi for his compliment and revealed that he has always considered him as an idol from a very young age and also played a fair amount of cricket with him during his foundational years. 

Washington Sundar said, "Sai Sudharsan has only gotten better in the last 3-4 years. I'm very happy for him".

Sudharsan said, "I've played with Washi from a very young age, he's one of my inspirations". ❤️

Washington Sundar said, "Sai Sudharsan has only gotten better in the last 3-4 years. I'm very happy for him".

Sudharsan said, "I've played with Washi from a very young age, he's one of my inspirations". ❤️ pic.twitter.com/4QU9b0Ff4v

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 16, 2025

Both Sundar and Sudharsan have represented their home state, Tamil Nadu, in a number of first-class and List-A games and have shared the dressing room on several instances. The duo knows their game from in and out and have been backing each other ever since they started playing the game. The two prolific players have a deep bond of friendship between them, and are known to often complement each other to uplift their morale. 

Washington is one of the three bowling all-rounders selected for this tour, along with Ravi Jadeja and Nitish Reddy. With attributes a lot similar to Ravi Ashwin, Washington can come good with the bat and the ball, just like his predecessor, and can come across as someone who could fill the shoes of Ashwin. On the flipside, the retirement of Rohit Sharma has left a void for India at the top of the order. That void can now be filled as Sudharsan will have an opportunity to open the innings alongside Jaiswal for the first time in his Test career. 

Shubman Gill, who is going to captain Team India in the coming series against England, recently opened up about his leadership style. Talking a day before the highly anticipated tour, Gill said that he doesn't have a specific style as it keeps evolving. "I don't have a particular style in mind. You play and you keep developing these things," he explained, emphasizing the importance of adaptive leadership. His philosophy is centered on establishing rapport with players and having them feel secure and confident within the team setup.

Communication will be a major factor in his strategy, states Gill. "I like to talk to the players. I would try to make them comfortable with their strengths and weaknesses. The players should feel secure; then only will they perform well," he said. Gill wants to instill a positive culture in which players feel comfortable taking the initiative or claiming performances for themselves. Trust and belonging will be central to him getting the best out of his players.

The young skipper also emphasized the need to be tactically alert against a physical England team. "If we are going proactive with our plans, it would put them under pressure," he said. Instead of believing in numbers, Gill is more concerned with establishing the tone by intent and clarity of thought. His focus on mindset and preparation speaks volumes about how he will lead, inspired by confidence, flexibility, and learning.

A Calm, Communication-Based Leadership Vision

Gill's utterances reflect an advanced realization of what leadership in global cricket is about. Rather than strict strategies, Gill holds a place for fluidity and emotional quotient — precious but essential qualities for one entering giants' shoes abandoned by icons like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

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While he acknowledges the massive void left by the two icons, Gill is clear that pressure is part of the job. “We’re all used to that by now,” he said, showing no signs of being daunted. For Gill, this tour is not just about performances but about laying the foundation for a new leadership era. came with authority.