Shubman Gill Smashes 754 Runs in England Series – McCullum Wanted Siraj as Player of the Series, Reveals Dinesh Karthik. Shubman Gill had a phenomenal outing in the five-Test series against England, racking up an incredible 754 runs. His consistent brilliance with the bat included four centuries—one of them a stunning double ton—making him the highest run-scorer of the series and setting a new record for the most runs by an Indian batter in a Test series on English soil.
However, in a surprising revelation after the series concluded, former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik shared an inside scoop. According to him, England’s head coach Brendon McCullum actually preferred Mohammed Siraj for the Player of the Series award over Gill.
Both players were instrumental in India’s series win. Gill led from the front with his bat, while Siraj brought unmatched firepower with the ball. The fast bowler featured in all five Tests, delivering with unwavering intensity and heart.
Siraj emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the series, scalping 23 wickets, including two five-wicket hauls. His most memorable performance came in the final Test at The Oval, where he turned the match on its head on Day 5—claiming three wickets in a decisive spell just when England were inching toward victory, needing only 35 more runs.
Although Siraj was rightly awarded the Player of the Match for his heroics at The Oval, it was Shubman Gill who walked away with India’s Player of the Series honors.
“McCullum Changed His Mind in Just 30-40 Minutes” – Dinesh Karthik on Player of the Series Twist Between Gill and Siraj
Dinesh Karthik has revealed an interesting behind-the-scenes moment from the Oval Test. According to him, Shubman Gill was all set to win the Player of the Series award — and had the match ended on Day 4, there would’ve been no doubt about it.
“Brendon McCullum had picked Shubman Gill as the Player of the Series. Mike Atherton, who was set to conduct the presentation, had all his questions prepared for Gill. Everything was ready for him,” Karthik said while speaking to Cricbuzz.
However, things took a dramatic turn on Day 5 when Mohammed Siraj delivered a sensational bowling performance. That changed everything.
“In just 30 to 40 minutes, Baz McCullum completely flipped — he chose Mohammed Siraj instead. He even spoke about Siraj in glowing terms during the post-match chat with Sky Sports, appreciating how enjoyable it was to watch him bowl,” Karthik added.
In the end, despite all preparations being in place for Gill, the Player of the Series went to the Indian captain, thanks to Siraj’s game-changing spell.