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"Mistake To Impersonate Virat Kohli": Kaif Swayed By Shubman Gill's Calm Captaincy

Akshita Patel

Shubman Gill praised for calm captaincy in Manchester [Source: @CricCrazyJohns, @Foxcricket/X.com]Shubman Gill praised for calm captaincy in Manchester [Source: @CricCrazyJohns, @Foxcricket/X.com]

Shubman Gill, India’s young Test captain, has earned praise from former cricketer Mohammad Kaif for showing maturity and calmness during the fourth Test against England in Manchester. After facing criticism for his aggressive attitude at Lord’s, where many felt he was trying to imitate former skipper Virat Kohli, Gill made a big shift in his approach, and it worked.

Gill took charge with a match-winning century in the fourth innings, scoring 103 under pressure. His gritty knock saw India survive and kept the five-match series alive.

Mohammad Kaif Impressed With Shubman Gill Embracing His Own Style

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif was especially impressed with Shubman Gill’s behaviour and leadership on the field at Old Trafford. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif said that Gill looked much more composed and didn’t try to act aggressively like Virat Kohli.

"In this Test, you must have seen that whenever the camera zoomed in on him, he was calm. He realised his mistake of trying to impersonate Virat Kohli… He realised his calm nature, and it transpired in his batting. He showed that he has temperament," Kaif said.

The shift in Gill’s attitude has been noticed by many. At Lord’s, the fiery exchange with Zak Crawley was criticised as forced or unnecessary. But in Manchester, he let his bat and smart captaincy do the talking. His calmness not only helped him focus while batting but also set the tone for the entire team. 

Gautam Gambhir Silences Gill’s Doubters

India head coach Gautam Gambhir came out strongly in support of Shubman Gill after the young captain's match-saving century in the fourth Test against England. Addressing the media, Gambhir hit out at critics who questioned Gill’s talent and leadership, saying that anyone who doubts Shubman only knows how to talk about cricket, not understand it. 

He added that the dressing room always believed in Gill, even during lean patches. Gambhir dismissed concerns about captaincy pressure, stating that the 25-year-old remains focused and plays like a true batter. His calm ton helped India draw the Test and stay alive in the series.