Updated On: 28 July, 2025 08:02 AM IST | Manchester | IANS
Ravi Shastri, the former India head coach, lauded Gill and England captain Ben Stokes for their gritty display of skills and temperament in the first session

Ricky Ponting and Ravi Shastri
Despite Shubman Gill falling for 103 on the stroke of lunch during Day Five’s play, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has lauded the Indian skipper for standing up for the side in the toughest moments of the series.
Gill had come out to bat on a hat-trick ball in the first over of India’s second innings on Day Four, but stood up with his patience and gritty nature, hit 103 off 238 balls, laced with 12 boundaries. It was his ninth Test hundred and fourth of the ongoing series.
He has now tied with legendary batters Don Bradman and Sunil Gavaskar for most centuries as captain in a Test series, whilst also becoming the first player to hit four hundreds in their debut Test series as captain. “He was in at 0-2, and he’s a young captain trying to make his mark. When the opportunity arose for him to stand up with the bat, he’s done it again. He has done a terrific job so far during the series.