A wave of excitement swept through the Indian cricket camp on Friday as Shubman Gill, leading the team for the first time in a Test, finally clinched his maiden toss victory. This momentous win broke a frustrating streak of six consecutive losses at the coin flip. In the second Test against the West Indies in New Delhi, Gill confidently chose to bat first, opting to retain the same triumphant playing XI that had outplayed their opponents by an innings and 140 runs in the previous match in Ahmedabad.
(Image: Gautam Gambhir, Shubman Gill, and Jasprit Bumrah)
The rare occasion ignited immediate, joyful celebrations among the team. Coach Gautam Gambhir, along with star players like Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, engaged in playful banter over the long-awaited triumph. As Gill made his way back to his teammates, someone jovially yelled, “Well done, Gill!” Gambhir, known for his wit, couldn’t resist a quip, remarking that speedster Jasprit Bumrah had already begun his run-up, fully expecting another toss loss. Bumrah, with a smile, chimed in, adding, “Miyan (Mohammed Siraj) and I, both,” which elicited hearty laughter from the entire squad. The hilarious exchange was captured on video and quickly went viral across social media.
Commenting on his previous toss misfortunes, Gill shared his philosophical outlook: “Out of the seven Tests, we actually got what we wanted in four of them. We aimed to bowl in the last game, and we got to bowl. Now, for this one, we wanted to bat. So, ‘Toss se farak nahi hai, jo chaiye wo milega’ (The toss doesn’t matter; we’ll get what we want),” he explained, showcasing a calm and confident demeanor despite the added pressure of captaincy.
True to his words, India capitalized on the decision on Day 1, amassing an impressive 318 for 2 wickets in 90 overs. Young sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal shone brightest with an unbeaten 173 runs, while Sai Sudharsan supported him with a career-best 87, laying a formidable foundation for the team.
Reflecting further on the game and his captaincy, Gill added, “The pitch looks excellent; our goal is to accumulate as many runs as possible. Consistency is paramount – maintaining and repeating strong performances. Captaincy hasn’t fundamentally changed me; it has simply brought more responsibilities, which I genuinely enjoy. It’s a very exciting future that lies ahead for me.”