It was a fitting climax-a passage of play laced with tension, redemption and the quiet rhythm of poetic justice. Mohammed Siraj, who had earlier taken two sharp catches, including a full-stretch stunner diving to his right, spilled a skier from Brydon Carse.
Moments later, England’s Shoaib Bashir survived an LBW verdict through the decision review system (DRS) off the bowling of Ravindra Jadeja, further fraying Indian nerves as the final wicket hung in the balance.
And then, as if cricket itself were scripting its own symmetry, Akash Deep sent down another rising delivery. A top edge ballooned high into the cloudy Edgbaston sky. This time, it was Shubman Gill, India’s young captain, who settled beneath it with poised certainty. The catch was clean, the contest was sealed, and history was made: India had secured their first-ever Test victory at Edgbaston.
That final moment wasn’t merely the end of a match-it was a microcosm of a larger narrative. For it was Gill and Akash Deep-the two men who had consistently orchestrated India’s fightback-who combined to claim the last English wicket. In a game that tested nerves, temperament and tenacity, it was only fitting that the protagonists who had shaped the triumph were the ones to close it out.
Now back to Gill-his ascent from gifted young talent to the captain of India’s Test side has been anything but accidental. Once an under-19 prodigy with strokes as elegant as fearless, Gill has steadily matured into a figure of composure and command. His appointment as captain in 2025 was bold, even audacious. Yet in a matter of weeks, he has worn the mantle not like an inherited burden but like armour tailor-made-an assured presence guiding India through one of its trickiest overseas challenges in recent memory.
From the start, Gill approached the role with quiet intent. There was no posturing, no overt displays of authority. What emerged instead was a leadership style defined by restraint, awareness and deep empathy. For Gill, being captain is less about diktat than it is about understanding. It is about knowing when to assert himself and when to step back, letting his team breathe.
Trial by fire at Headingley
Gill’s first Test as captain came at Headingley in Leeds-a ground rich in English folklore and famously unkind to visiting teams. India looked strong on paper and made a commanding start. Gill, batting with a mix of control and grace, notched a brilliant 147, anchoring India’s first innings and staking his personal claim as the batting spine of this team. Yet, despite his heroics, India stumbled.
England chased a fourth-innings target with five wickets in hand, clawing their way back into the match with typical verve. It was a bitter pill for the young captain. But in the aftermath, Gill refused to assign blame. He dissected the loss with clarity, citing missed chances and a misfiring lower order; yet his tone was clinical, not critical. “We had our chances,” he admitted, “but it’s a learning curve.” There was no panic, no theatrics-just a sober analysis and a resolve to improve.
For a first outing as skipper, it was a remarkable display of composure. Critics had wondered whether Gill, at 25, was ready to fill the shoes of leaders like Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli. If Headingley provided any answer, it was this: Gill was ready to lead with a different kind of authority, one built on calm, not charisma.
Redemption at Edgbaston
Then came Edgbaston. If Headingley had left India bruised, Birmingham became the site of revival-and Gill was at the heart of it all. With the pressure squarely on his shoulders, he delivered one of the most commanding performances by an Indian cricketer in England.
Gill scored a sublime 269 in the first innings and followed it with a fluent 161 in the second, making him the first batsman in Test history to score a double century and a 150 in the same match. India, emboldened by their captain’s form, went on to secure a 336-run victory, their largest-ever overseas win by runs and their first-ever Test triumph at Edgbaston.
It was a master-class in dominance, not just with the bat but also with the mind. Gill’s innings were the spine and soul of India’s resurgence, but his captaincy-subtle field changes, smart rotation of bowlers and a visible trust in young players-made the difference. Far from being rattled by Headingley’s sting, Gill seemed to have internalised it, using the defeat as fuel rather than baggage.
Post-match, he remained measured: “As captain, you want to lead by example. I wanted to bat as long as I could. That’s my job.” There was no triumphalism; just a firm, grounded sense of purpose.
Captaincy as second nature
What has made Gill’s leadership stand out is not just his batting form, though that’s been formidable-585 runs in four innings at an average of 146.25, including three centuries and a double. It is the serenity with which he has embraced the captain’s role that has caught the eye.
There is an undeniable sense that Gill has “taken to it like a duck to water”. Observers have remarked on his quiet authority, his clarity under pressure and his ability to remain emotionally level-qualities often elusive in young leaders. His teammates speak of a captain who listens, communicates one on one and fosters a sense of security within the group. There is no overreach, just a steady hand.
And yet, make no mistake-Gill is not just a captain who comforts. He leads with steel when required. At Edgbaston, his decision to back debutant Akash Deep-who ended up taking 10 wickets in the match-was both bold and prophetic. Likewise, his decision to bat England out of the game rather than chase quick runs showed a long-term view, a strategic maturity beyond his years.
A new template
Gill’s early days as captain are not merely a bright start; they suggest a shift in the DNA of Indian cricket leadership. Where Kohli was fire and fury, Gill is ice and intent. Where Rohit relied on instinct and experience, Gill leans on data, communication and a balanced temperament.
The batting has evolved too. Once considered an opener with finesse but questionable grit, Gill now owns the No. 4 slot with authority-a position once synonymous with Sachin Tendulkar and Kohli. He has answered critics who questioned his technique against the moving ball, his ability to convert starts, and his mental toughness. The Edgbaston epic, coming against a seasoned English attack in testing conditions, has likely put such doubts to rest.
Still not 26, Gill is the youngest Indian captain to win a Test overseas, surpassing Sunil Gavaskar’s longstanding record. He is also the only Indian to score both a double-century and a 150 in the same Test match. And most crucially, he is the first Indian skipper to win at Edgbaston, ending a 49-year-long wait.
From here on
What lies ahead is as much a test of continuity as it is of ambition. Gill now leads a side that is rebuilding, with several young faces and a shifting senior core. The England series, now poised at 1-1, will offer further challenges, not just in conditions but in consistency.
Yet the early signs are promising. In just two Tests, Gill has already redrawn expectations. The team rallies behind him. The media has begun to praise his poise. And fans, drawn to his graceful batting and understated command, see in him the face of a new Indian era.
Captaincy often burns young players. For now, Gill shows no signs of the flame searing too close. He bats with elegance. He speaks with clarity. And he leads with a sense of inevitability, as if this was always the plan, and the rest of us are only now catching up.
Shubman Gill is not just the captain India has now. He may well be the captain it has long been waiting for.