Dilip Vengsarkar hails Shubman Gill, says scoring runs has helped him in captaincy against England

Former Indian captain Dilip Vengsarkar has showered praise on Shubman Gill for his consistent performances in the first two Test matches against England. Gill has amassed 585 runs in two Test matches at an incredible average of 146.25. 

The Indian captain has been leading from the front and returned with massive scores of 269 and 161 runs in the second Test to play an instrumental role in team’s historic win of 336 runs. Gill aggregated a total of 430 runs in the second Test, which is the second-highest in Test history.

Vengsarkar said scoring heaps of runs in the first two games has helped Gill in his captaincy against England.

Dilip Vengsarkar said via Indian Express, “He did very well as a captain, as a batsman, it was very important that he scored runs so that he can call the shots and he can lead from the front, which is very important and he has done that. He is an experienced player. He is a world-class batsman and he has shown that in England.”

“Because of the English conditions, everybody was thinking what will happen to the Indian team in the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. But these young players have shown that they are capable of doing it and I am very proud of them.”

Meanwhile, Gill also has the chance of breaking Sir Don Bradman’s record of 974 runs, which is the highest in a single five-match Test series. Vengsarkar said we are obsessed with breaking records, which is wrong.

“Well, he is in great form and he is an outstanding batsman. I hope he does that. I don’t know whether he will do it, but I am sure that he has got an opportunity. He is in great form and he should do it, that’s what I feel. But then, what is important is not (get into chasing) personal milestone. Because we are obsessed with personal milestone, which is wrong,” said Vengsarkar (via the aforementioned source).

The third Test match between India and England will be played at Lord’s, London from 10th July onwards.