The Calm Captain: How Shubman Gill Won Tendulkar's Praise

It’s not every day you see a young captain take charge with such authority and grace, but that's exactly what we're witnessing with Shubman Gill in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. He's not just leading the team; he's leading from the front with the bat, putting up historic numbers and earning some seriously high praise from none other than the "Master Blaster" himself, Sachin Tendulkar. The way Gill is handling a young Indian side on English soil has been nothing short of remarkable.

Key Highlights

• ✓ Shubman Gill has scored a staggering 585 runs in the first two Tests against England, including a double century.
• ✓ He broke Virat Kohli's record for most runs by an Indian captain in a Test series in England.
• ✓ Sachin Tendulkar praised Gill's calm and composed leadership, noting his "heartbeat is always low."
• ✓ Gill became the first Indian captain to score 600 runs in a Test series played in England.
• ✓ India secured a massive 336-run victory in the second Test at Birmingham, with Gill scoring 269 and 161.

The Master's Approval: Tendulkar on Gill's Captaincy

When Sachin Tendulkar talks, the cricket world listens. And right now, he's talking about Shubman Gill. Speaking at Lord's, where he had the honor of ringing the iconic five-minute bell to start the third Test, Tendulkar didn't hold back in his admiration for India’s new captain. He painted a picture of a leader who is mature beyond his years, someone who is the calm eye of the storm.

Tendulkar highlighted Gill’s composure as a key asset. “You look at him, you always feel that he's not panicking. He is calm,” he said. This observation is huge. In the high-pressure cooker of Test cricket, especially as a captain, maintaining a level head is half the battle. Tendulkar even recalled hearing in post-match interviews that Gill's "heartbeat is always low, it doesn’t matter what the situation of the game is," calling that calmness the "foundation to whatever you construct from that."

He also made a brilliant point about how a captain's personal form influences the entire team's psyche. “If a captain is in good form, it makes a huge difference on decision making,” Tendulkar noted. With Gill batting so brilliantly, his on-field decisions have been "measured" and "well thought of." It’s clear that Tendulkar sees a complete package in Gill—a run-scorer and a strategic, composed leader who is successfully organizing a young and talented team.

💡 What's Interesting: Tendulkar’s day at Lord's was incredibly special. Not only did he praise Gill and ring the bell, but his own portrait, painted by Stuart Pearson Wright, was unveiled at the MCC Museum. He mentioned that it felt like life had "come full circle" from his first introduction to Lord's during the 1983 World Cup win.

Rewriting the Record Books in England

Let's just take a moment to appreciate the sheer volume of runs Gill has been piling on. In the first two Tests alone, he hammered an incredible 585 runs, a haul that included three centuries and a monumental double ton. Two of those centuries came in the second Test at Birmingham, where his scores of 269 and 161 powered India to a historic first-ever win at the venue by a massive 336 runs.

But he wasn't done there. On Friday, July 11, 2025, during the third Test at Lord's, Gill etched his name into the history books. As he crossed the nine-run mark in India's first innings, he officially broke Virat Kohli's long-standing record for the most runs scored by an Indian captain in a Test series in England. Kohli had set the previous benchmark with 593 runs during the five-match tour back in 2018.

By surpassing that, Gill also achieved another major milestone: he became the very first Indian captain to score 600 runs in a Test series played on English soil. Think about all the legendary captains who have toured England before him—this is a truly special achievement that puts him in a league of his own. It’s a testament to his incredible form and his ability to adapt and dominate in challenging conditions.

A Near Miss and the Wider Context

What's almost as incredible is what he nearly accomplished. Gill came agonizingly close to breaking another massive record—the most runs scored by any Indian batter in a Test series in England. That record belongs to "The Wall," Rahul Dravid, who amassed a colossal 602 runs during the 2002 tour. Gill ended his run chase at 601 runs, just a single run shy of Dravid's mark. It’s a bit of a heartbreaker, but it also puts into perspective the legendary company he now keeps.

Looking at the all-time list for India in England, you see names like Sunil Gavaskar (542 runs in 1979) and Tendulkar himself (428 in 1996). Gill has now surpassed them all, save for Dravid. And just for a little more context, the overall record for most runs in a Test series for India against England (anywhere) is held by the sensational Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 712 runs in India in 2024. Gill's performance is right up there with the best of the best.

More Than Just Runs: Forging a New Unit

This is where we circle back to Tendulkar's observations. He wasn't just praising the runs; he was praising the leadership. He noted that it's "good for world cricket" to see a young team trying to "organise themselves as a strong unit." Under Gill's guidance, players are figuring out their roles, and the team is gelling. This is crucial for the future of Indian Test cricket.

Remember, this series didn't start perfectly for India. They lost the first Test, and Tendulkar had a classic coach's comment on it: "catches win matches." He humorously added that at one stage, he "thought it was a hot potato (which) nobody wanted to catch." But the key takeaway is how the team responded. They overcame that setback to dominate the second Test, and that kind of comeback speaks volumes about the captain's ability to rally his troops.

Tendulkar also touched upon the immense depth of talent in Indian cricket, calling it a "good headache to have." He mentioned interacting with the young players on tour, noting their hunger and desire to perform. This environment, fostered by a captain who leads by example, is exactly what allows a team to thrive and build for the future. Gill isn't just a placeholder; he's actively shaping the next generation of Indian Test cricket.

Conclusion

So, what we are seeing from Shubman Gill is more than just a purple patch. It's the emergence of a truly special player and leader. He’s breaking records set by modern-day legends like Virat Kohli, putting up numbers that rival all-time greats like Rahul Dravid, and most importantly, he's doing it with a calmness that has deeply impressed the ultimate cricketing icon, Sachin Tendulkar. His ability to score runs under pressure while simultaneously molding a young team is a rare and valuable combination. The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy has been a showcase for his immense talent, and it feels like we are watching the start of a very special era in Indian cricket, with the calm captain at the helm.