ENG vs IND 2025: ‘He was like Virat on last England tour’ – Ravi Shastri on Shubman Gill’s improved defence

Former Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri drew comparisons between Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli after Gill notched up his second century in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England.

Gill made a strong statement as India’s new captain, scoring an unbeaten 114 on Day 1 of the second Test at Edgbaston. His composed knock was anchored by a crucial 66-run stand with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who contributed a fluent 87. Their efforts helped India post a solid 310 for 5 at stumps.

Shastri, who worked closely with Gill during the early stages of his international career, praised the young batter’s growth. He particularly noted improvements in Gill’s batting technique, especially his defensive play, drawing a parallel with how Kohli has developed his own game over the years.

“I think the biggest difference is that he has worked on his defence. When he last came to England, he was like Virat, played with hard hands and pushed at the ball. Now, the top hand is in much more control,” Shastri told Sky Sports Cricket. 

“He allows the ball to come and hit the bat. He’s trusting his defence. We know he has all the shots in the book. He’s a lovely driver of the ball, and can pull as well. But just that little work on defence has done him a world of good,” he added.

Notably, Gill’s maiden Test century as captain went in vain at Headingley as India suffered twin batting collapses and lost the game despite having five centuries across the two innings. However, the young skipper continued the form and struck a second consecutive ton in the series. 

With India trailing 0-1 in the series after a five-wicket loss in the opener, Gill will look to remain composed and continue steering the innings when he resumes batting on Day 2. For England, the local boy Chris Woakes came on top with the ball as he picked two wickets and gave 59 runs in his 21 overs.