Shubman Gill has done a Virat Kohli in England? Check details

Former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar has heaped praise on Shubman Gill for his exceptional performance in the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, drawing comparisons with the likes of Virat Kohli. India endured a challenging series, particularly in the absence of senior players Rohit Sharma and Kohli, both of whom missed the tour. Despite the lack of experienced names in the top order, the young Indian batting unit stepped up and delivered under pressure, especially against England’s bowling attack on their home soil. Bangar highlighted the rise of Yashasvi Jaiswal, who effectively filled the void left by Rohit Sharma at the top of the order.

Sanjay Bangar draws comparisons between Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli

Jaiswal adapted impressively to the challenging English conditions and showcased his immense potential with the bat. The series also saw prolific performances from Gill, KL Rahul, and Ravindra Jadeja. All three were in outstanding form, each accumulating over 500 runs in the five-match series — a testament to their consistency and adaptability. Bangar believes the series marks a major turning point for India’s Test lineup, especially with the gradual transition from the older guard to a new generation. He emphasized that Gill’s maturity and temperament are signs of him becoming a key figure in India’s red-ball future.

"Who were they replacing? If you look at the No. 4 spot, Shubman Gill has done as good as a Virat Kohli could have done. And who has taken Rohit Sharma's place? It is Yashasvi Jaiswal and he has also had an equally good series to show for. Because Gill and Jaiswal got the runs, the Indian team never missed the services of Rohit and Virat," stated former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar. 

Sanjay Bangar also emphasized the importance of India having a reliable fast-bowling all-rounder in their Test playing XI which is always a crucial cricket update. He pointed out that while the team has experimented with options like Shardul Thakur and Nitish Kumar Reddy, neither managed to leave a lasting impact during the recent series. Bangar stressed that a quality pace-bowling all-rounder adds much-needed balance to the team, especially in overseas conditions where seamers play a bigger role. He believes that identifying and grooming such a player should be a priority for the selectors moving forward, as it would not only strengthen the lower-order batting but also reduce the workload on the frontline bowlers during long series in testing conditions.

"The Indian management has prioritised that over the last three to four seasons. But, you want to have a fast-bowling all-rounder and if India does get that, then the combination will settle itself. Till the time India gets a proper fast-bowling all-rounder, you'll always have these question marks," Bangar added. 

Sanjay Bangar praised Indian opener KL Rahul for his increased involvement and consistent performances during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. He commended Rahul for stepping up when the team needed stability at the top, especially in the absence of senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Bangar noted that Rahul not only played with maturity but also formed a strong partnership with Shubman Gill during challenging phases of the series. His ability to anchor the innings and support Gill in pressure situations stood out, proving his value as a reliable top-order batter. 

"He certainly looked the part and added to whatever he has done as a batsman by consuming a lot of balls and being very consistent throughout, the kind of slip catching we could see from him and being an able ally to Shubman Gill at times. You could also see a side of KL Rahul which wasn't seen earlier, where he was having a lot of chats with the opponents and the umpires at times," Bangar concluded.