Michael Vaughan Lauds Shubman Gill’s Brilliant Captaincy in 5th Test at The Oval. Former England skipper Michael Vaughan has applauded Shubman Gill for his exceptional leadership during England’s first innings in the ongoing fifth Test against India at The Oval, London.
On Day 2, England openers Zak Crawley (64) and Ben Duckett (43) gave their team a flying start with a 92-run partnership. At one point, it seemed England was on track for a massive first-innings score.
However, India staged a stunning comeback after lunch, thanks to a fiery spell from Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, who took four wickets each. Their efforts dismantled England’s batting order, restricting them to just 247 runs. Harry Brook’s gritty fifty was the only highlight in England’s middle order.
In response to India’s first-innings total of 224, England managed only a 23-run lead. For India, Karun Nair struck a crucial half-century, while Gus Atkinson impressed with a five-wicket haul.
Michael Vaughan Applauds Shubman Gill’s Leadership at The Oval, Highlights India’s Dominance
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has praised Shubman Gill’s captaincy during the Oval Test, particularly for his tactical brilliance on Day 2. Speaking on BBC Sport, Vaughan lauded Shubman Gill proactive approach during England’s first innings, especially when pressure was mounting.
“Shubman Gill’s captaincy stood out in the afternoon session,” Vaughan said. “He brought the field in and challenged England’s batters—basically saying, ‘If you want to play your shots, go ahead. But if you slip, we’re ready to grab a couple of wickets.’”
Vaughan also commended Mohammed Siraj for delivering key breakthroughs, removing Ollie Pope and Joe Root with sharp deliveries. “Those were two massive wickets in the context of the game,” he noted.
England suffered a significant setback with Chris Woakes ruled out of the match due to a shoulder injury sustained while fielding. Vaughan believes India hold the advantage going into the next phase of the game.
“I’d rather be in India’s shoes right now. With Woakes out and the sun expected to shine tomorrow, batting could become easier. If the pitch flattens, India might run away with it,” Vaughan said.
He also pointed out how India pulled things back after an early onslaught from Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley. “That partnership gave England momentum, but India responded smartly by pitching the ball up and targeting the stumps.”
India have now gained a lead of over 130 runs, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Akash Deep looking composed at the crease. Trailing 1-2 in the series, India must win the fifth Test to level the series.