The most important thing in cricket, or any sport for that matter, is a successful outcome. Many drawbacks are covered up by a win, which sometimes even transforms them into positives. Consider the second Test between England and India. When India made three changes to their XI, chaos ensued. Even though they were behind 0-1, they rested Jasprit Bumrah, picked two batting all-rounders instead of Kuldeep Yadav. The ultra-defensive action drew criticism from almost every corner. However, they recorded their largest-ever away victory (in terms of runs) to tie the five-match series at Edgbaston, a ground where they had never won.
The overwhelming win does not imply that India selected the ideal starting lineup; aside from Akash Deep, the other two alterations had little effect on the game. However, it was sufficient to divert attention from the team's composition. The toss was another element that had the potential to drastically alter the match's outcome.
India skipper Shubman Gill stated that he would have chosen to bowl like his English opponent Ben Stokes after losing the toss. With Gil's record-breaking 269-run knock, India amassed 587 runs, proving that the decision was a bad one.
Former England opener Mark Butcher claims that if India had suffered the same fate, the Edgbaston Test would have been Gill's last as captain. Butcher's remark followed former India coach Ravi Shastri's assertion that England would get away with their decision to field.
"England would get away with this decision but if it were Shubman Gill, who said India would have bowled, it would not have gotten away if England had reached 600," Shastri said on commentary during the Edgbaston Test. "Might have been his last Test as captain," replied Butcher.
Gill orchestrated India's 336-run victory by leading from the front. Gill became the first cricketer to score a double century and a 150 in the same Test. With a smooth 161 in the second innings, the Indian captain supported his 269 in the first. Fast bowler Akash Deep took ten wickets in the game when Bumrah was rested.
Butcher praised Gill's captaincy and batting. "There aren't many jobs in world sport that come with as much pressure and scrutiny as being Indian cricket captain, right? Not to mention you're filling in Kohli's spot in the order or Tendulkar's spot in the order (both held the number four spot)," Butcher told PTI.
The 52-year-old, who played 71 Tests for England between 1997 and 2004, added, "So the pressures were enormous. And so far, he's taken to it like a duck to water. He's just looked very, very comfortable, very serene in terms of his temperament."
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Before the series, there were some doubts about Gill's attitude and technique, but with 585 runs in four innings, the 25-year-old put an end to that discussion for good.
"And technically, he's played beautifully as well. So what a great start to the series. I mean, he might have some records in his side by the end of it. He's passed enough already. So what's he got? 600 already in the series. It has been an incredible start.
"And England will have to come up with an answer for him in that middle order, because they obviously feel, that you get past the top three or four...and then there are bounties to be had a bit further down the order,” Butcher said referring to India's brittle lower-order.
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