Team India Test captain Shubman Gill was full of praise for bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep after their remarkable performance against England. Both cricketers stepped up to fill in for veteran pacer Jasprit Bumrah in session 2 of the 5-Test series.
Gill admits that Bumrah’s absence attracted attention regarding India’s chances against England. However, he expressed delight that two other bowlers could rise to the challenge and secure India’s first Test triumph in this year’s series:
“Without Jasprit bhai, there were a lot of questions about whether we could do the job. But Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj bowled magnificently,” Gill said after India outclassed their hosts to tie the ongoing series with three sessions left to play.
Gill Hails Current Squad as “One of the Best to Tour England”
Captain Gill was full of praise for his teammates after India in Whites managed to edge their hosts in the second session:
“This is one of the best Indian teams to tour England. Bumrah is one of the best bowlers in the world, but we believe we can take 20 wickets anywhere. When you look at the scorecard, you don’t think about personal milestones,” the skipper said.
His assertion that India can take 20 wickets anywhere is a direct response to questions asked after Bumrah was rested after a stellar fifer in the first Test.
“Absolutely Magnificent” – Gill Singles Out Bowling Pair for Praise After Wicket-Taking Spree
Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj paired nicely to ensure India was not lacking in the bowling department. Bumrah’s absence in Test 2 provided these players a chance to prove their worth away from home against top English hitters and fielders. Siraj bagged a six-wicket haul in his first innings and paved the way for Akash Deep to register the same feat in India’s second innings.
Both bowlers combined to deliver 17 wickets in total to silence critics who faulted their inclusion before the match. Skipper Gill expressed satisfaction with their performance and tagged them as “outstanding” in Test 2 of 5:
“They were absolutely magnificent for us. Both of them took 16-17 wickets. That itself is a big, big achievement coming into this Test match, especially without Jasprit bhai. There were a lot of questions if we would be able to take those 20 wickets. And the way these two guys delivered was just outstanding. I have no words to describe,” he added.
Gill Downplays Double-Century and Daddy-Ton to Praise Bowlers
Gill bagged 430 out of over 1000 runs India put past England during the second Test; however, he shared his admiration for his team’s bowlers after securing victory. His tally included a double-century (269) and daddy-ton (161) as India ran riot against the English in Birmingham:
“It gets very difficult for the bowlers. Even more than the wicket the ball is going soft and out of shape very quickly. I don’t know what it is – weather, wickets or whatever – but it gets very difficult for the stop runs, then the game loses its essence,” he added.
Shubman did not register much attention on his personal performance but decided to direct praise toward his bowlers. His approach paid off and ensured India secured a much-needed, series-tying win without the talismanic Bumrah.
Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh Hail “Mature” Test Captain Shubman Gill
Ex-Team India batting ace Virender Sehwag heaped praise on Shubman Gill and his teammates for their exceptional performance against England in Birmingham. He also noted the contribution of Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj in Bumrah’s absence:
“Outstanding win in Birmingham. While this should be remembered as the Shubman Gill Test match for his incredible 430 runs, the efforts from Siraj in the first innings and Akash Deep in both innings on a surface which didn’t have much for the bowlers were an outstanding effort. Well done, team,” Sehwag said through a post on X.
Former World Cup winner and star all-rounder Yuvraj Singh also praised captain Gill for his “maturity”. Singh branded this victory as a memorable one and called on the squad to seize the moment and clinch victory against their hosts:
“Winning a Test in England is about showing heart when it gets tough! No @Jaspritbumrah93, away from home, backs to the wall, and still, the boys found a way! #AkashDeep was fearless and unplayable, and @ShubmanGill showed maturity beyond his years! That’s the kind of win you remember. On to the next and grab the series, boys!“
Other cricket legends like Saurav Ganguly, Irfan Pathan, Sanjay Manjrekar, and co praised India’s outing against their hosts in the second leg. Praise from multiple quarters received the perfect cap with Gill clinching the ‘Player of the Match’ after this second Test encounter.
