Shubman Gill Stars as India Fights Back to Level IND vs ENG Test Series at Oval
Shubman Gill has become a top player in Indian cricket. In the recent Test series against England, he showed everyone how good he is. He was the captain for the first time and helped India win the last match at the Oval to level the series. Before the series started, he said he wanted to be the best batter, and he achieved that goal. He scored 754 runs in five matches, which is amazing. He hit one double-hundred and three centuries.
Shubman Gill became the captain after Rohit Sharma. In cricket, a batting average tells us how good a batter is. Before this series, Gill’s average was 35.05, which means he scored about 35 runs each time he batted. That’s decent, but not outstanding. However, everyone knew he could do better because he is very talented. After the series, his average increased to 41.35, which is a big improvement.
Before the series began, Gill shared his thoughts. He said, “Honestly, when I want to go out there and bat, I just want to play as a batsman. I don’t want to think that I’m the captain of the team, because I think that sometimes puts too much pressure on you. Whenever I’m going out there, I want to play as a batsman and want to dominate the opposition and be the best batsman in the series, and that’s what I’m trying to look at.” He wanted to focus on batting and be the best.
In the series, Gill scored 754 runs in five matches. That’s an average of 75.4 runs per match. He hit four centuries, including one double-hundred. This means he scored over 100 runs four times, and once he scored over 200 runs in a single innings. Moreover, his performance was consistent throughout the series, with significant contributions in every match.
Shubman Gill’s first series as a captain. Enough said 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Xgr3wBu6ue
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 4, 2025
Other notable batters in the series included England’s Joe Root, who scored 537 runs, and India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 411 runs. However, Gill outshone them all, scoring 217 more runs than Root, who is considered one of the best batters in the world. Even Harry Brook from England couldn’t match Gill’s incredible numbers.
Gill’s total of 754 runs places him second on the list of most runs by an Indian batter in a Test series. The record is held by Sunil Gavaskar, who scored 774 runs in four matches. Although Gavaskar had a higher average, Gill’s achievement is still remarkable, especially since he was also leading the team.
After the series, Gill expressed his satisfaction. He said, “Feels very rewarding. There were certain things I wanted to work on as a batter, and it was a goal to end as the best batter of this series. I’m glad to get that goal. It is always a combination of technique and mentality; when you are feeling good mentally, then the technique naturally flows.” His hard work paid off.
In addition, being a captain is a big responsibility, and for someone new to the role, it can be challenging. However, Gill handled it very well. He didn’t let the pressure affect his batting; instead, he thrived under it, leading by example with his outstanding Test series performance.
Shubman Gill’s performance in this Test series against England is a significant milestone in his career. He not only scored a massive number of runs but also led his team effectively as a new captain. His batting was crucial in helping India fight back and level the series. Therefore, this series will be remembered for Gill’s exceptional batting and his growth as a leader in Indian cricket.



