In a delightful turn of events, Shubman Gill secured his inaugural Test toss victory as India’s captain on Friday, putting an end to a frustrating streak of six consecutive losses. This memorable moment occurred during the second Test against the West Indies in New Delhi. After the coin fell in his favor, Gill promptly chose to bat first, maintaining the same formidable playing XI that had comprehensively defeated West Indies in the first Test in Ahmedabad.
The rare toss win ignited immediate and joyous celebrations within the Indian squad. Coach Gautam Gambhir, along with players like Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, engaged in light-hearted banter, clearly amused by the long-awaited triumph. As Gill made his way back to his teammates, a voice from the dugout playfully cheered, “Well done, Gill!” Gambhir couldn’t resist joking that Jasprit Bumrah had already begun marking his run-up, anticipating yet another lost toss. Bumrah, with a smile, chimed in, “Miyan (Mohammed Siraj) and I, both,” eliciting laughter from the entire team.
Reflecting on the preceding toss misfortunes, Gill shared his philosophical approach: “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 doesn’t matter; we’ll get what we want,” he stated, showcasing a calm and confident demeanor despite the pressures of captaincy.
India capitalised on the decision to bat, finishing day one with an imposing total of 318/2 in 90 overs. Yashasvi Jaiswal was the standout performer, scoring an unbeaten 173, while Sai Sudharsan contributed a career-best 87 runs, providing a solid foundation for the team.
Discussing the match and his captaincy further, Gill commented, “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. A very exciting future awaits me.”