- June 22, 2025
Some innings will be remembered long after the last ball has been bowled. Shubman Gill’s 147 in Leeds is one of those innings. Gill wasn’t only batting on a lovely day in Leeds, he was conducting a symphony. But just when it looked like Gill was going to go on and on, a pointless slog and an unbelievable catch at deep mid-wicket brought to an end what was going to be a captain’s innings he could take with him! Shoaib Bashir also got his first Test wicket – and what a catch it was! The catch not only broke the scoreboard, the catch had broke the mood!
Let’s look at the layers of this special innings and the moments, amid an innings, which made it special.
A Debut as Captain, A Statement with the Bat
It’s important for Captain India to play against England in a Test series. The conditions, the expectations, and the history can all weigh very heavily in phase four. He came into the fourth phase looking like a man with a plan. He was super balanced from ball one, had great timing, had great footwork, and a very sensible plan of action.
Gill created a remarkable partnership worth 209 with Rishabh Pant, which brought the match to life. Gill made 147 from 262 balls, with 19 fours and one six, no slogging, just Test Cricket with a flair. He defended the seamers from England and neutralized the spinners until he finished the fun with one reckless shot.
How he built his innings said everything: this wasn’t about runs, this was leadership by example.
Bashir’s Breakthrough and the Turning Point
Every young spinner thinks about that first Test wicket. For Shoaib Bashir, it turned out to be more special than he could ever imagine – and more necessary. In the 102nd over, Bashir tossed one up there, and Gill bit too low and went big.
This was a daring shot – a slog over mid-wicket – and it just did t carry past Josh Tongue in the deep. The great innings from Gill was over, and Bashir had his 1st Test wicket. You could see the emotion on his face: relief, pride, and a little unbelievable.
It wasn’t just a personal victory for Bashir; it was a team lift. England had finally found a way in, and it was in the hands of a rookie.
Pant’s Fireworks and a Historic Hundred
While Gill may have been the unimposing architect, Pant was the fireworks. The flamboyant Indian left-hander completed his century in style. The six he hit with one hand took him to 100—the seventh Test century of his career, surpassing MS Dhoni for the most Test centuries by a wicketkeeper for India.
But it’s not just about the milestones. Pant is a match-winner. The energy, the intent to dominate, the ability to change the game dramatically. This was Pant’s third Test ton in England; every ton unique and every ton memorable. When Pant rolled in the air and was met by a thunderous roar from the crowd, India’s total crested 440.
Gill’s constant and Pant’s chaos created a very good cocktail that England couldn’t stop. Although the innings constituted a fair share of leadership, resilience, and timing, in every sense, once again, Pant remains, and India seems virtually at 500. A question we can ask ourselves is whether we are entering a new golden era for India’s Test batting.
What do you think— was this Gill’s true arrival as a leader?
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