1. Without stars, the team created a new story
This victory had no Virat Kohli, no Rohit Sharma, no Bumrah or Ashwin – yet the team beat England by 336 runs at Edgbaston to level the series 1-1. This was India’s biggest win on foreign soil.Shubman Gill’s
2. Shubman Gill’s bat became the strength of captaincy
Captain Gill led on his own and scored 430 runs in two Tests – which reflects both his confidence and form.
3. Siraj and Akash Deep’s pair created a stir
Both of them took 17 wickets together, which caused England’s ‘Bazball’ strategy to falter.
4. England’s confidence shattered due to Ben Stokes’ defensive batting
Gill defeated Ben Stokes in his own style – forced him to play defensively and got him out just before lunch on Sundar’s ball.
5. Gill’s calm nature became the real hero of the match
Even in the delay due to rain and changing weather, there was no nervousness in Gill’s body language. He remained calm and composed throughout the match.
6. Quick decisions proved to be masterstrokes
The biggest moment of captaincy came when Gill handed the ball to Washington Sundar instead of Nitish at the last moment — the result: Stokes’ wicket.
7. Never seen self-reliant decisions
When coach Gautam Gambhir was expected to intervene in captaincy, Gill took decisions on the field himself — no messaging or outside interference.
8. Captain of the team, not just in name
Gill also showed in the press conference that he is not inspired by outside opinion, but by the trust of the team. He said – “What people say does not matter, the trust of the team is important.”
9. Instilling confidence in the team
He also gave a chance to a struggling bowler like Prasidh Krishna and inspired him to bowl well — this is real leadership.
10. Leadership of the new generation is now in his hands
Young players used to wonder when they would get a chance to take decisions — today captains like Shubman Gill are enjoying that opportunity very well.
Conclusion
Shubman Gill has shown that captaincy is not just a game of experience, but also confidence, cleverness and the art of taking the right decision at the right time. This first big win of his captaincy can be the beginning of a new era for Indian cricket. If he continues to give such mature and calm leadership, then very soon he will be called India’s next ‘Captain Cool’.
October 9, 2025