India's Comeback Win: Gill Praises Team's Grit and Siraj-Krishna's Heroics at The Oval

Shubman Gill has lauded the Indian team's unwavering spirit and composure under pressure, which he believes were instrumental in their remarkable comeback to draw the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series 2-2. This followed a nail-biting six-run victory against England in the final Test at The Oval. Gill spoke to the media, highlighting the team's unwavering belief in their abilities, their clear tactical approach, and his personal growth from leading a young Indian side through a demanding series.

Siraj and Prasidh bowled India to a thrilling six-run win on fifth morning at the Oval. © Getty

Initially, India seemed to be on the back foot as Joe Root and Harry Brook propelled England to within 73 runs of their 374-run target, with seven wickets still in hand. However, the Indian team staged a remarkable comeback, fueled by relentless pressure spearheaded by Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, securing a stunning come-from-behind victory on the fifth morning.

Gill emphasized the team's self-belief, stating, "This morning kind of summarized what this team is all about. 70 odd runs, 7 wickets in hand. The way Brook and Root were going, not many teams in the world would have given themselves a chance. But this team believes that whenever we have some kind of an opening, we can make that, we can get through that opening."

He further explained that the team recognized a shift in momentum after a crucial breakthrough. The message was clear: maintain the pressure, regardless of how close the target appeared.

Gill elaborated, "One more wicket from here. And you never know, it's cricket, still 70 odd runs on Day 4, on that kind of a wicket, or even 50 runs, they would be under pressure. But when you've got bowlers like him [Siraj] bowling it makes your job as a captain very easy. You're just standing out there, and you just want to appreciate their bowling."

Despite having the option for a second new ball, the captain chose to stick with Siraj and Krishna. "But I think the way Siraj and Prasidh were bowling, we didn't feel like we needed a new ball. They can do the job for us even if it's an 84-over-old ball... We knew that there was a lot of pressure on them. In such a situation, there is always more pressure on the batting team. Because it's a one-ball game. So we thought that the longer we take the game, the more probability we will have to produce wicket-taking balls."

India entered the Test match without key players such as Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah, and were trailing 1-2 in the series. Gill emphasized that the team's confidence in their squad's depth and capabilities allowed them to concentrate on execution rather than dwelling on missing personnel.

"When you have players like him [Siraj], you don't really feel like that (missing the other players)... Even Boom bhai [Bumrah], I don't need to say much about him, he is one of the best fast bowlers in the world right now. But in Birmingham, I said we have so much talent in this country... so, it's just important for us to be able to bring our A game. And that's what my focus was, that all the players are feeling mentally up there and they are able to bring their A game whenever we are out on the park."

Looking back on his first experience as Test captain, and leading India through an intense series, Gill acknowledged that he's learning to navigate the emotional highs and lows that come with the role.

"There are moments like these, where you feel the journey is worth it, the moment that we had in the morning... You should be able to navigate through the highs and lows of life and try to stay balanced throughout. That's what at least I believe in, that I want to be able to stay balanced, whether we have won the match, lost the match, I've done well, or I've not done well. It's difficult, but it's a process. That's the real journey, to be able to stay balanced. I'm still learning, but so far, so good."