Gambhir heaps praise on Gill, Siraj and rest of Team India after stellar run in England: 'Boys have been brilliant'

Head coach Gautam Gambhir heaped praise on captain Shubman Gill, senior pacer Mohammed Siraj and the rest of the Indian team after their thrilling six-run victory over England at The Oval on Monday helped level the five-Test series for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2-2. Gambhir added that Gill and Co deserved every bit of love and adulation that they have been receiving from their supporters after their incredible fightback in the final Test, in which they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

“I am happy. I think boys deserve every bit of it,” Gambhir told reporters in New Delhi after returning from the tour of England.

“I think he’s (Siraj) been brilliant. In fact, not only he, but the entire team has performed brilliantly. It is very difficult for me to mention one name, but these guys have, be it Shubman, be it Siraj, be it everyone… I think the boys have been brilliant throughout the last two months,” he added, when asked on Siraj’s contribution in the victory.

Gambhir lauds Gill for ‘fantasic job’ in England

Gill and Siraj played key roles in helping India hold England to a draw away from home, finishing as the leading run-scorer (754) and wicket-taker (23) respectively after playing all five Tests. In Gill’s case, he broke multiple batting records in his maiden series as India Test captain, a role he succeeded legendary batter Rohit Sharma in.

Gambhir congratulated Gill for his “fabulous job” in England and expected him to continue doing good things for Indian cricket in the days to come.

“I think he’s done a fabulous job. That’s all I can say, and he’ll keep doing good for Indian cricket,” the former India opener added.

India had suffered a five-wicket loss in the series opener at Headingley after failing to defend a target of 371, only to bounce back in style with a 336-run victory in the second Test at Edgbaston, a venue where they had never won a Test before.

India conceded the series lead to the Ben Stokes-led hosts once again at Lord’s, where they suffered a narrow 22-run defeat while chasing what appeared a modest target of 193, but prevented England from clinching the series with a spectacular batting effort to salvage a draw in the fourth Test in Manchester.

England were staring a 3-1 triumph on the penultimate day of the series finale at The Oval after cruising to 301/3 in their chase of 374, thanks to a mammoth partnership between Harry Brook and Joe Root. The Indians, however, summoned all their courage and determination as Siraj and pace colleague Prasidh Krishna produced a comeback for the ages , resulting in a series-leveling victory.