IND vs ENG: Ricky Ponting Defends Shubman Gill’s Outburst at Lord’s, Compares His With Virat Kohli
Ricky Ponting backs Shubman Gill’s aggressive reaction at Lord’s, says “That’s him putting his stamp on the team.”
India captain Shubman Gill got into the spotlight during the Lord’s Test, not just for his batting but for his fiery attitude on the field. Now, he has found strong support from none other than Australia legend Ricky Ponting.
The drama unfolded at the end of Day 3 in the third Test when England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett took their time to take guard, denying India the chance to bowl two overs before stumps.
This didn’t sit well with Gill, who got into a heated exchange with both batters. The moment shocked many, as Gill is usually calm and composed. But Ricky Ponting, speaking on The ICC Review, said the reaction made perfect sense.
“That was a little out of character from what I’ve known of Shubman,” Ponting admitted. “But that’s the captain standing up for his team. That’s him showing it’s his team now.”
Ponting, who has led Australia in England, knows how intense things can get.
“The UK can be a tough place to play. The media pressure, the crowd, especially in a big series like this, it gets to you.”
He added that Gill’s approach reminded him of Virat Kohli’s bold leadership style.
“I think that’s Shubman trying to put his stamp on the side, like Virat did. Rohit was more inward with his aggression, but I loved watching Shubman stand up for what he believed in.”
India went on to lose the Lord’s Test by 22 runs, falling behind 1-2 in the series. With the fourth Test set to begin in Manchester on July 23, all eyes will be on Gill, both as a batter and as a leader.
