ENG vs IND: Captaincy sits well with Shubman Gill, feels Kane Williamson

Kane Williamson played along with Shubman Gill at Gujarat Titans in the IPL.

New Zealand cricketer Kane Williamson has heaped praise on India test skipper Shubman Gill. The 25-year-old was appointed as India’s test captain ahead of the five-match test series against England.

Gill has shown a wonderful form with the bat after taking over leadership of the test team. However, India have lost two out of three tests against England in the ongoing five-match series so far. England lead the five-match series 2-1 after three games and need one more victory to seal the series.

Gill scored a century in the first test at Headingley after taking over test captaincy. He then slammed a double century and a century in second test of the series to lead India to an infamous victory by 336 runs. However, he struggled in the third test at the Lord’s, getting out for 16 and six runs across both innings.

I always thought captaincy sits well with Shubman Gill- Kane Williamson

During a conversation with the Times of India, Williamson said that Gill has responded beautifully after becoming India’s test captain.

“He’s responded beautifully, hasn’t he? I always thought captaincy sits well with Shubman. I know that happening in a franchise space is slightly different; it’s a shorter sort of project versus captaining your country, which is a lot more consuming,” he said.

“Watching Shubman operate and he’s wise beyond his years and that responsibility is naturally something that he would look to take on,” he added.

Williamson also added that he was not surprised by Gill being appointed as India’s test captain as he is a world-class cricketer.

“So hearing him get that opportunity was no surprise to me but the quality of the player is something that goes without saying. He’s absolutely world-class. To see him come over here and conditions that can be challenging with the Dukes from time to time, and dominate like he has, it’s been amazing,” Williamson said.

“There are going to be really valuable lessons for him and we’re looking towards the leader that he will become but it’s still early days,” he added.

Notably, Gill is the leading run-scorer in the ongoing five-match ENG vs IND test series with 607 runs in three games. The fourth test between India and England will begin on July 23 at Old Trafford, Manchester.

India will look to script history in Manchester as they have not won a test match at the venue so far. Out of nine games they’ve played at the venue, they lost four to England, while five of them were drawn. India need to break the jinx to keep their hopes of series win on English soil alive.

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