NEW DELHI: Shubman Gill has emerged as the centerpiece of India’s batting order in the ongoing Test series against England, prompting comparisons with legends like Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar. Former England opener and current commentator Mark Butcher believes Gill has seamlessly stepped into the iconic No. 4 role, thriving under pressure and scrutiny few athletes ever face.
“There aren’t many jobs in world sport that come with the kind of pressure and scrutiny as being India’s Test captain,” said Butcher in an interview with PTI. “Now imagine doing that while filling the shoes of Virat Kohli — or even Tendulkar — both of whom made the number four position iconic. Gill has taken to it like a duck to water.”
Gill, just 25 years old, has been in imperious form in the series, notching up 585 runs in four innings, including three centuries, and lifting his average from the mid-30s to above 40. In what is also his first series as Test captain, Gill has shown both technical assurance and remarkable calmness under pressure.
“He’s been technically brilliant and temperamentally serene. It’s a dream start. If he continues like this, he might be eyeing some serious records by the end of this series,” Butcher added, suggesting that England must now treat Gill as their “Target No. 1” in India’s middle order.
Butcher was equally effusive in his praise for KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, both of whom have centuries under their belts in the series. Describing Rahul as a naturally gifted top-order batter, Butcher recalled his impressive performances in the 2021 series in England.
“Technically, KL Rahul looks tailor-made for the top order. He’s elegant, composed, and should average over 40 soon if he gets a consistent run,” said Butcher.
On Jaiswal, Butcher called him a “generational talent”. Though he acknowledged a slight vulnerability to short-pitched deliveries aimed at the body, the England veteran pointed out that the 22-year-old has managed to navigate the challenge so far with maturity beyond his years.
“I spoke to Kumar Sangakkara about him and he said Jaiswal is obsessed with batting. And you can see that in his game — he loves scoring runs, and he does it in a stylish and composed way, even in testing conditions,” Butcher said. “Yes, there might be a weakness against the short ball, but it hasn’t cost him yet. And the kind of player he is, he’ll figure it out.”
However, not everything is settled for Team India. Butcher noted the revolving door at the No. 3 spot, with Sai Sudharsan being dropped after one Test and Karun Nair failing to impress consistently.
“That number three slot is tricky. India will have to pick someone and stick with them for a while. Facing the new ball isn’t easy, and low scores can happen, but stability is key,” Butcher advised.
Off the field, Mark Butcher continues to nurture his passion for music. A songwriter and performer, he finds inspiration from life’s moments — one of his albums even drew from the experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Asked if he prefers music over cricket, Butcher chuckled, “Since I was 17, I haven’t had to do what I’d call a proper job. I’ve been a cricketer, musician, commentator — all of them passions. I’m incredibly lucky to make a living doing what I love.”
With India heading to Lord’s for the third Test on July 10, Gill, Rahul, and Jaiswal will be crucial to India’s continued dominance. England, meanwhile, will be desperate to regroup and break through India’s newly reinforced top order, with Gill now firmly in their sights as the man to stop.
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