Shubman Gill brought alive the second Test between India and England with a spectacular 269 that carried him past record books and negated critics in emphatic fashion. Batting with maturity, with flair, and patience, Gill’s innings was not just about personal milestones; it was about bailing his team out when they needed him the most. Arriving at a precarious stage, the young captain played one of the best overseas knocks by an Indian batsman in recent history.

His double century was his game’s natural progression  a trapeze art act, balancing conventional and modern, and it was about time. From cover drives that sped to the fence to sure-footed play against England’s spinners, Gill displayed a masterclass in adaptability. He made relationships, rotated strike intelligently, attacked when it counted. It wasn’t just a big innings it was a captain’s knock, one larded with purpose and poise.

 
In the process, Shubman Gill shattered several records. He became the youngest Indian captain to score a double hundred in Test cricket, overtaking Virat Kohli’s mark. His 269 is now the highest individual score by an Indian batter in a Test in England, surpassing Rahul Dravid’s 217 at The Oval in 2002. It also stands as the third-highest score ever by an Indian captain in Test cricket.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Ravi Shastri expresses his views on Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill ahead of Day 2 of ENG vs IND 2nd Test

From Promise to Powerhouse: Gill’s 269 Not Out Redraws India’s Test Legacy on English Soil

Gill also became only the fourth Indian to score 250+ in a Test match away from home  joining an elite list that includes legends like Sunil Gavaskar and Virender Sehwag. With this innings, his career Test average outside India has also shot up significantly, with any doubts over his overseas record being well and truly put to bed.

But, as the cricketing world awakens, one fact stands firm: Shubman Gill is not just the future of Indian cricket but the present. With form, hunger and leadership now all in alignment, this knock might just be the making of his red-ball journey.

Pressure at the highest level of international cricket can either be a friend or a foe. For Shubman Gill, it is very definitely the latter. With the weight of Test captaincy on his young shoulders, Gill hasn’t just led  he’s flourished. And in scoring back-to-back Test centuries as captain, he’s sent a message loud and clear: he’s not just here to be a placeholder  he’s here to lead from the front. Calm at the crease, sharp in the field, Gill is shaping into the leader Indian cricket has been looking for.

His leadership has now drawn praise from one of India’s most iconic cricketers  Yuvraj Singh. In a heartfelt Instagram story, Yuvraj wrote, “When responsibility calls, some rise and some soar! Shubman just became one of the rare few to score consecutive hundreds as Test captain.” The praise wasn’t just casual; Yuvraj went on to compare Gill to South African legend Graeme Smith, a captain known for leading young and winning.The heat of that comparison demonstrates just how much faith cricketing greats have in Gill’s temper and talent.

Gill’s development as a player has always been thrilling to watch, but this step into leadership has been even more fun. At only 24 he is showing the kind of qualities  patience, game sense, composure  of great Test leaders. Doing it with a steady supply of runs does even more. These aren’t hundreds, they’re not just highway signs; they’re statements.
ALSO READ: OTD: Ravindra Jadeja's heroics earned India the 2013 Champions Trophy defeating England

A Cool Head, A Hot Bat, A Leader Is Born

Scan the crowd and your eyes will quickly fixate on Gill, who is not even trying to be the life of the party. What is striking about Gill, the true hero, is his understatedness, his colossal non-giantness. He leads quietly but firmly, his performances speak volumes. During a battle of attrition under a format that requires mental fortitude, his philosophy has been mature and aggressive.

As India look to the future, it’s already obvious that Shubman Gill is no mere batting prodigy. He’s becoming a dependable leader. With legends of the game like Yuvraj Singh publicly endorsing him, it sounds like this is only the start of something extraordinary.

India's cricketing world had an emotional moment when one of their legendary Test captains and batting greats, Virat Kohli, announced his retirement from Test cricket. The cricketing universe responded with amazement and disbelief, but with the young superstar Shubman Gill's open letter to Kohli, it became a message from the next generation that honored Kohli's legacy.

Gill shared an emotional social media message mentioning how he looked up to him and was grateful to him as "paji," stating simply that no matter how many words he put down to say how big the influence on him was, it would never be enough. Gill recalled being thirteen and watching Kohli bat as an audience member in awe of how one human could use that much energy and passion and how it was impossible for Gill to conceptualize that level of talent; that was only rectified when Gill shared a dressing room and the track with his idol. Gill emphasized that Kohli did not simply inspire a generation but also changed the mentality of millions. He further explained Kohli's unmatched passion and commitment and the mental revolution that he brought to Indian Test cricket. For Gill, as a player who was born with a bat in hand and watched Kohli dominate all formats of cricket at home and away, it is a personal and historical moment.

Shubman Gill’s fantastic and touching farewell for King Kohli on his Test retirement! 🤌❤️🥹#ViratKohli #Tests #India #Sportskeeda pic.twitter.com/2em7N8Y6Jp

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) May 12, 2025

Also read: Virat Kohli's first match and last match in Test cricket

A Legacy That Inspires Generations

Shubman also recognized the importance Kohli gave to Test cricket, saying that he wishes the current generation can take forward the same fire and passion. His message was not a farewell message—it was a promise. A promise to maintain the legacy Kohli created with his sweat, skill, and spirit over the years.

The bond between Gill and Kohli reflects the beautiful transition in Indian cricket. While the world celebrates Kohli’s phenomenal Test career, players like Gill are ready to take the baton forward. Kohli’s departure leaves a void, but it also leaves behind a roadmap of excellence, discipline, and belief.

As Shubman Gill ended his tribute, he just said, "Thank you for everything. Happy retirement, @imVkohli paji." A very strong statement reflecting the emotions of millions of fans and young cricketers across the globe.

India's new Test captain will be announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) through a media conference after Rohit Sharma's retirement from red-ball cricket. The news comes not long after Rohit ended his illustrious Test career, leaving the team in need of a leader in the classic format of the game. The announcement will coincide with the selection of the team for the home Test series against England, set to occur on May 23.

Rohit, who formally retired after India's recent Test match, finished his career as one of India's most reliable openers and a stoic, tactical captain. With his leadership, India had their dominance at home and finished as runners-up in the World Test Championship final in 2023. The selectors now have the added challenge of not only rebuilding a dominant Test team but also of finding a quality leader who will be able to take over and lead a transition team through another cycle.

There are some names being discussed for the job currently. KL Rahul, vice-captain for the moment and a reliable performer in all formats, is a front-runner. He is a natural choice due to his experience and composure. Jasprit Bumrah, the former temporary captain and senior player on the team now, is also in contention. There are also youngsters like Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant—if completely fit—who are seen as long-term captaincy candidates due to their attacking intent and on-field presence.

🚨 BCCI has planned a media conference to introduce the new Test Captain. 🚨

- The Team selection for the England Test series is likely to happen on May 23. [Cricbuzz] pic.twitter.com/0kbWlvZKQA

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 10, 2025

Also read: "I’m done" Virat Kohli’s repeated words spark retirement rumours

Potential Leadership Successors Take Shape Ahead of Selection 

While selectors will look to assess a variety of criteria such as experience, fitness, overseas performance, and laughingstock leadership attitude before appointing the next captain, the upcoming five-Test home series against England will be important too, not just as a fight but as a leadership fight for whoever takes over. The BCCI will likely want someone who can commit to a long-term leadership role and help develop the next leaders. 

The May 23 meeting will reveal the Test squad but could also show which way Indian cricket wants to go in a post-Rohit Sharma environment. The BCCI and who they trust with India’s future in Tests will be closely scrutinized. 

The 39th match of IPL 2025 was played between Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Titans. In this match, Gujarat Titans defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by a huge margin of 39 runs and achieved their sixth win this season. Gujarat Titans had set a target of 199 runs in front of Kolkata team, in response, Kolkata team could score only 159 runs. Captain Shubman Gill played the highest innings of 90 runs in 55 balls for Gujarat Titans.

Talking about this match, Kolkata Knight Riders won the toss and decided to bowl first. In response, batting first, both the openers of Gujarat Titans team, Sai Sudarshan and Shubman Gill, made a partnership of 114 runs in 74 balls for the first wicket, in which Sai Sudarshan scored 52 runs in 36 balls. He hit 6 fours and a six in his innings. Captain Shubman Gill played an innings of 90 runs in 55 balls with the help of 10 fours and three sixes.

After this, Jos Buttler, who came to bat at number three, played an unbeaten innings of 41 runs with the help of 8 fours in 23 balls. Rahul Tewatia could not even open his account after facing two balls. Shahrukh Khan scored 11 runs in five balls. For the Kolkata Knight Riders team, Vaibhav Arora took one wicket for 44 runs in four overs. Apart from this, Harshit Rana took 1 wicket for 45 runs in four overs. Andre Russell also took one wicket for 13 runs.

Ajinkya Rahane played a slow innings in the run chase

Chasing the target of 199 runs given by the Gujarat Titans team, the Kolkata Knight Riders team had a very bad start and in the very first over, Rahmanullah Gurbaz was out LBW on the ball of Mohammad Siraj. After this, Sunil Narayan also returned to the pavilion after scoring 17 runs in 13 balls on Rashid Khan's ball. After two wickets fell for just 43 runs, captain Ajinkya Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer tried to handle the innings and made a partnership of 41 runs in 36 balls.

But this partnership was going very slow, so in an attempt to increase the run rate, Venkatesh Iyer got out on Sai Kishore's ball. Venkatesh Iyer scored 14 runs in 19 balls, while Ajinkya Rahane did score 50 runs but for this he faced 36 balls. And when he had to bat fast, Ajinkya Rahane returned to the pavilion after being stumped out.

Now all the hopes depended on the batting of dangerous batsman Andre Russell. But Andre Russell also became a victim of Rashid Khan's ball after scoring 21 runs in 15 balls. Ramandeep Singh, who was expected to bat well, also returned to the pavilion after scoring one run in two balls. Moeen Ali could not even open his account and was out on the ball of Prasidh Krishna. From the Gujarat Titans team, Prasidh Krishna took two wickets for 25 runs in four overs. Apart from this, Rashid Khan also spent 25 runs in four overs and took two wickets.

Twitter reactions after GT wins 39th match of IPL 2025

E Kkr vallaki SRH ante jai antadhi 😏#Kkrvsgt pic.twitter.com/HGqvJQpVYR

— Addicted To Memes (@Addictedtomemez) April 21, 2025

Tree 🌴 plantation drive by KKR 💜 #KKRvsGT pic.twitter.com/COwnmab2sY

— memer manish (@memer_manis) April 21, 2025

KKR fans watching #KKRvsGT after abusing the team left, right, and centre for their last performance: pic.twitter.com/3yYnuUbxGY

— αdil. (@ixadilx) April 21, 2025

•Loss
•Win
•Loss
•Win
•Loss
•Win

KKR Team with KKR fans😂🔥 pic.twitter.com/1wZ63bMiMg

— कट्टर KKR समर्थक 🦁🇮🇳 ™ (@KKRWeRule) April 11, 2025

#KKRvsGT
Gujrat Titans Win Matter >> 🔥😌 pic.twitter.com/ID5G77M43Z

— Prof cheems ॐ (@Prof_Cheems) April 21, 2025

Gareeb Ki Gareebi Ka Fayeda Utha Liya 🌝#ShubmanGill #KKRvGT #KKRvsGT pic.twitter.com/VC47xRh0SQ

— chacha (@meme_kalakar) April 21, 2025

GAUTAM GAMBHIR KNIGHT RIDERS IT IS!

KKR should dissolve itself when GG is not its mentor. The players should go on a 4 year break, should vibe on wavy, watch wwe & make prestige sponsors food. pic.twitter.com/RVQPX4cZSr

— abhi 🅴 (@CFCAbhii) April 21, 2025

#GTvsKKR

🚨Me with my family, GT again win & top of the table with 12 points of IPL 2025.....🤩🥳

E haallooo..💃🕺🤩 pic.twitter.com/Bd86PWOAJU

— काजू कसाटा / શનિ 🇮🇳 (@kaju_boy8890) April 21, 2025

KKR fans watching #KKRvsGT after abusing the team left, right, and centre for their last performance:

pic.twitter.com/QtJ4iLA3ZW

— Dev Ruwala (@Dev_Ruwala) April 21, 2025

Nacho .. unbelievable win by KKR 😍 #KKRvsKXIP pic.twitter.com/3wAniMQD1n

— Funnily Serious (@notionalvieww) October 10, 2020

Tewatia To Catch Out Ho Gya 🤣🤣#KKRvsGT #KKRvGT pic.twitter.com/RR0dr10Wc4

— chacha (@meme_kalakar) April 21, 2025

Trophy 🏆 Do Or Khatam Karo
#KKRvsGT #KKRvGT pic.twitter.com/u8fXkn8IZN

— chacha (@meme_kalakar) April 21, 2025

Indian former cricketer Yuvraj Singh recently opened up about his bond with the younger cricketing talents, Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma, and discussed the emotional rollercoaster he goes through seeing them play. Yuvraj Singh has been a mentor to these players and, also talking about his relationship with them, said , “I get nervous when Shubman or Abhishek are batting, be it for India or for their IPL teams.”

As has been reported, both Shubman and Abhishek represent Punjab, and so does Yuvraj, who has been their guiding World Cup-winning all-rounder. The two do recognize his contribution. Yuvraj has earned the reputation of an extremely disciplined mentor and is still in the apparatus of their careers, constantly providing support for any issues that arise in the form of suggestions and information, particularly when they are experiencing issues related to batting mechanics.

In a recent episode of the Curly Tales YouTube channel alongside his mother, Shabnam Singh, Yuvraj shared, “I feel nervous when Abhishek and Shubman are batting.” She also added with a touch of humor that “younger lots of cricketers are actually scared of Yuvraj because he is quite intimidating.”

 

 

 

 

 

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Also read: 'Dhoni has resigned to fate' – Aakash Chopra makes bold statement on MS Dhoni’s mindset amid IPL 2025

Yuvraj’s Monitoring on Punjab’s Cricketing Gems: Strict Mentor, Gentle Heart

Shabnam relayed that Yuvraj calling to review matches is the reason some players, such as Shubman and Abhsiek, get anxious. “He’ll call and say, ‘What kind of shot did you play?’ and they get petrified,” she said, smiling at how seriously he takes his role as a mentor.

In other news, Abhishek Sharma crossed a new milestone after getting his maiden BCCI central contract, which was under grade C due to his stellar performance in T20Is for India, where he scored two centuries. Shubman Gill, on the other hand, has also been performing great and maintained his position in grade A, which makes him one of the best Indian batters.

The Gujarat Titans (GT) vs. Mumbai Indians (MI) match is set for March 29, 2025, at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Both teams are elated in anticipation of grabbing their first win of the season, shaping the aesthetic for this match to be even more engrossing.

Match Details – IPL 2025

• Match: Gujarat Titans (GT) vs Mumbai Indians (MI)
• Date: 29th March 2025 
• Time: 7:30 PM IST
• Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
• Live Streaming: JioStar & Star Sports Network

Also read:IPL 2025 GT vs MI : player battles to watch out

 Weather and Pitch Condition:

Weather Condition:

• The Ahmedabad forecast promises skies that are clear throughout the game, and the temperature hovering between 31 and 37 degrees guarantees no rain holdups.
• 11% (Humidity)
• No rain is predicted, ensuring an uninterrupted match.

Pitch Forecast:

• Known for its batting-rich track, the Narendra Modi Stadium is likely to produce another high-scoring game because of the expected bounce and pace, which is favorable for aggressive batting. 
• As the match shifts toward the end, spinners may get some help due to the pitch slowing down.

Also read:IPL 2025: CSK vs RCB at Chepauk: A head-to-head breakdown

Indian fielders are on radar to the big final of Champions Trophy where some of the straight catches were dropped by players. New Zealand won the toss and choose to bat first, Rohit Sharma lost his straight 15 toss most by any captain. India won their all matches in this champions Trophy edition even beating New Zealand too in league phase. 

Today India's fast bowlers were really not upto the mark Shami who is the second highest wicket taker couldn't able to do much on he was taken out from opening batsman Rachin Ravindra where he lashed out boundries on him, even Hardik Pandaya who accompanied him too got some hard hits which reciprocated Rohit to move on to spinners.

Read more: Virat Kohli Suffers An Injury Scare Ahead Of Big Final Against New Zealand

Lagging In Catches Calls The Trouble

It was Shami who started the proceeding by dropping the catch it was the 6th over of the match where he was bowling to Rachin Ravindra, he tapped the ball straight to Shami which was straight forward catch, Shami missed it and injured his hand. Shami in semi-final too dropped the important catch of Travis Head.

The next catch was dropped by Shreyas Iyer same as Rachin Ravindra at the deep mid wicket. Ravindra swept Chakravarthy ball over deep and there stood Iyer who came on running and dropped at the end. That catch was in hand which just tickled at the end moment. Though India made good ground fielding contributions and took some crucial wickets too. 

The Pressure Of Final Pressurize

The pressure of the final always makes you sometimes tilt because your one mistake can take you away from the game. The same thing happened in the 35 over too where Rohit Sharma dropped Darryl Mitchell at the mid-wicket though the catch was quite a tough one but at international standards, you have to get those to acquire the trophy. Rohit Sharma extended his arms high but the effort was 100% but wasn't quite enough to take the catch. 

Read More: Former England All Rounder Moeen Ali States That ODI Format Is Worst Of All

Though it was not enough vice captain Subhman Gill made a blunder by dropping Phillips at mid wicket, where Phillips hit the shot at mid wicket and Subhman standing in shade charged over it but dropped at the end. These catch drops extended the New Zealand score to 251 where they where very behind than the par score but these small errors etched New Zealand to reach the respectable score. Now its upto India how they compose the chase. 

As of February 26, 2025, Indian batsmen have set a record by  clinching four positions among the top 10 of the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings. This  is a clear testament to India’s batting strength, durability, and prominence in the international arena.

Top  Indian Batsmen in ICC ODI Rankings 2025

Shubman Gill: Leading the  Charge

• Current Rank: 1st
• Rating Points: 817
• Strengths:  Consistency, technique, pressure handling.

Shubman Gill has emerged as the top ODI batsman in  the world. He has been particularly effective in India’s run to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025  final. His ability to control the game and provide crucial impetus at important stages of the match is  invaluable.

 Rohit Sharma: The Reliable Presence of a Captain

• Current Rank: 3rd
• Rating Points: 757
• Key Strengths: Leadership, big match temperament, elegant stroke play.

 Rohit Sharma has been one of the key reasons for India’s recent success due to his consistency  at the top order. His technique to anchor innings while also having a good strike rate has made him irreplaceable. As a captain, his leadership and experience are still leading the team through tough games.

Virat Kohli: The Maestro's Resurgence     

• Current Rank: 5th      
• Rating Points: 743  
• Key Strengths: Chase master, fitness, adaptability  

Virat Kohli has once again proved why he is one of the best batsmen of all time.  His unbeaten century against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy 2025 also showed his strength in pressure  situations. His hunger for runs and commitment to excellence inspires the next generation.

Shreyas Iyer: The Middle-Order Pillar        

• Current Rank:  9th        
• Rating Points: 679      
• Strengths: Stability, flexibility, acceleration in the death overs

Shreyas Iyer has been crucial to India with his middle-order performances. He has been  useful in rebuilding the innings and in completing the games and thus has provided depth and reliability to the  team. Being India's reliability for stabilizing the innings, he continues to justify his place.

India's Batting Depth: A Testament to Excellence

The fact that four Indian batsmen figure among the ICC ODI top 10 rankings is a strong indication of:

• Strong domestic structure – Nurturing world-class talent
• Successful mentorship – Taking lessons from legends such as Kohli & Rohit Sharma
• Consistency of performance – Performing in all conditions

With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 underway, India's batting lineup is one of the strongest in international cricket. This team is not only about individual genius but a team powerhouse waiting to write new history.