In a moment that brought smiles and laughter to the Indian dressing room, young captain Shubman Gill celebrated his maiden Test toss victory. Leading the team for the second Test against the West Indies in New Delhi, Gill’s win at the coin toss ended a surprising streak of six consecutive losses. Opting to bat first, Gill confidently maintained the same winning XI that had dominated the previous Test in Ahmedabad by an innings and 140 runs.
The rare triumph at the toss ignited joyous celebrations among the squad. Coach Gautam Gambhir, alongside players like Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, engaged in light-hearted banter, playfully teasing Gill about the long-awaited toss victory. As Gill made his way back to his teammates, a jovial shout of “Well done, Gill!” echoed. Gambhir, known for his fiery on-field persona, couldn’t resist a jest, remarking that Jasprit Bumrah had already started his run-up, fully expecting another lost toss. Bumrah, with a grin, added, “Miyan (Mohammed Siraj) and I, both,” prompting more laughter from the squad, highlighting the strong camaraderie.
Reflecting on his captaincy and the toss streak, Gill maintained a relaxed perspective. “Out of the seven Tests, we got what we wanted in four of them. We wanted to bowl in the previous match, and we got to bowl. Now, batting in this one. Toss se farak nahi hai, jo chaiye wo milega” (The toss doesn’t matter; we’ll get what we want), he stated, underscoring his confidence regardless of the coin flip’s outcome.
India certainly made the most of Gill’s first toss win. On day one, they posted an imposing total of 318 for 2 in 90 overs. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was the star of the day, scoring an unbeaten 173, while Sai Sudharsan contributed a career-best 87, providing a formidable foundation for India’s innings.
Discussing the match and his new leadership role, Gill expressed enthusiasm. “The wicket looks good; we want to pile on the runs. Consistency is key — to repeat and maintain performances. Captaincy hasn’t changed me much; there are more responsibilities now, and I like that. Very exciting future for me,” he concluded, looking forward to the challenges ahead.