India's legendary spinner Ravichandran Ashwin praised Shubman Gill as a batter but wants him to be a tactically strong captain. Ashwin pointed out that Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir have chosen to increase the batting depth but don't have enough wicket-taking options. Kuldeep Yadav is yet to play a game on the tour. Ahead of the fifth Test, he wants India to make the changes as they aim to level the series 2-2.
"Improve now, and please make that call. You can still lose after that decision, but make that decision because Test matches are not won by batting depth; they are drawn by batting depth. Test matches are won by having bowlers who have the knack for taking wickets," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel 'Ash Ki Baat'.
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Ashwin also talked about how Gill was criticised and questioned for his technique before the tour. While he was critical of his decision to introduce Washington Sundar late in the first innings, he wants him to learn as a captain. He hailed the 25-year-old for being in complete control of his batting and making England pay for the reprieves.
"What a fabulous hundred by Shubman Gill. He has once again proved, he worked on his technique. He did not have a great match as captain, the way he brought Washington Sundar late was a huge tactical mistake, but that happens. He is a young captain and will only learn by making mistakes, and I hope he learns faster," Ashwin said.
"Gill kept all things aside and came out as a batter and played a leader's knock. It was truly a leader's emergence knock. He scored in Birmingham, got a big score when India were 0-1. He scored at Headingley as well. We lost at Lord's and a lot of people had raised questions about his batting. When everything was down, he walked out to the middle, complete control, and batted beautifully. Yes, he got a couple of reprieves, but I thought he was fabulous," he added.
Gill's phenomenal run in maiden Test series as captain
Meanwhile, Gill has a chance to break several records when India take field at Kennington Oval, London, in the fifth Test starting July 31. He has 722 runs from eight innings at an average of 90.25, including four centuries featuring his highest score 259.