India’s young Test captain Shubman Gill missed breaking Sunil Gavaskar’s 54-year-old record for most runs by an Indian in a Test series. Gill was dismissed for 11 and fell short of breaking Gavaskar’s record by 21 runs. But, Gavaskar had a gift for the 25-year-old after Day 3’s play in the fifth Test at The Kennington Oval, London. The legendary cricketer gifted Gill his shirt with SG initials and a cap. He feels that not being able to break the record will give him something to look forward to in the next series.
“Well done. I have got a gift for you in anticipation of you going past. But, at least you got something to go for in the next series. This is just a little gift. This is a shirt with SG initials. Mere liye kisi ne banaya tha par aapko de raha hoon. Aapko fit hoga ya nahi, maloom nahi. (Someone made it for me, I am giving it to you. I don’t know whether it will fit you or not). This is a little cap which I give to very few people, with my signature on it,” Gavaskar said in a video posted by the broadcaster.
Gavaskar lauds the captain’s move
Gavaskar appreciated Gill’s move to changed the field for the penultimate delivery of the day. He double-bluffed Zak Crawley by setting the field for a bouncer but Mohammed Siraj bowled it full and strength to dismiss the England opener.
“All the best. That last move was fantastic. Sending a fielder there and bowling a yorker,” Gavaskar said.
England need 324 more runs to win the Test. They will be attempting a record-breaking run chase at the venue. The previous-highest successful run chase at the venue is 263 which was achieved in 1902 by the hosts.
Gavaskar to sport his lucky jacket on Day 4
Gavaskar also told Gill that he will be wearing his lucky white jacket, the same one he wore when India registered their first-ever win at The Gabba, Brisbane in 2021. Gill scored 92 runs in the historic run chase.
“I am going to wear my lucky jacket which I wore in Australia, the white jacket for the Gabba one. I got it only for the last day and I am going to wear it tomorrow,” Gavaskar concluded.
Gill’s numbers in Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025
Gill ended his series as a batter with 754 runs from 10 innings at an average of 75.40, including four centuries. His highest, 269, came in India's first-ever Test win at Edgbaston, Birmingham.