“Shubman Gill is not an autopilot captain” - Ex-Indian cricketer heaps praise on Indian Test captain

Former India cricketer Arun Lal has heaped a lot of praise on the Indian Test captain Shubman Gill, who propelled the Indian team to a series leveller after winning the Birmingham Test by 336 runs against England.

While Gill started the Test series with a 147-run knock in the first innings of the Leeds Test, he continued with his career-best score of 269 runs in the first innings of the second Test. Later, he scored 161 runs in the second innings of the Birmingham Test.

“I love Shubman as a cricketer, he is awesome but I never realised he was this good. I’m sure nobody else did either. He has unbelievable talent, unbelievably calm. It’s almost as though he knows what ball is coming before it’s bowled,” Arun Lal said to PTI.

Furthermore, there was a lot of talk from the cricketing fraternity on Gill being highly reactive towards the ball. However, Arun Lal reckoned that Gill isn’t an autopilot captain as he listens and takes advice from senior players.

“He’s not an auto-pilot captain, which I admire. He listens, takes advice from (KL) Rahul, (Ravindra) Jadeja and others. His patience and self-assurance are rubbing off on the group. He’s going to be here for a long, long time,” he added.

Lal was also impressed with Team India’s comeback in Birmingham after losing the Leeds Test. He also asserted that he expects Kuldeep Yadav to be roped into the playing XI for the 3rd Test at Lord’s.

“I must admit that when this team was going to England, I didn’t think they had this kind of determination, this kind of belief, this kind of capability. This team has performed far better than expected, and I am so glad about that. These youngsters, once given a chance and that confidence, you better watch out. If you’re sitting out, it will be difficult to break in soon,” he said.

“It’s a big question as far as I’m concerned. You’re playing so many batters till number nine and I’m not in favour of that. You need impact bowlers. Kuldeep is in form, and England’s lower order can struggle against wrist spin,” he stated.

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