In a heartwarming moment that transcended the on-field rivalry, Sunil Gavaskar, the legendary Indian cricketer, presented Shubman Gill, the current India Test captain, with a special gift after the third day's play of the fifth Test against England at the Kennington Oval in London. The gesture came as Gill narrowly missed breaking Gavaskar's long-standing record for the most runs scored by an Indian batsman in a Test series.
Gill, who has been in exceptional form throughout the series, fell just 20 runs short of eclipsing Gavaskar's record of 774 runs, finishing with a commendable 754 runs in 10 innings. Despite the near miss, Gill surpassed Gavaskar's record of 732 runs for most runs by an Indian captain in a Test series, a record set in 1978-79 against the West Indies.
Gavaskar, who is part of the commentary team for the series, acknowledged Gill's achievement and potential with a touching presentation. He gifted Gill a shirt bearing the initials "SG" and a signed cap, an item he reportedly reserves for very few people. In a video posted by Sony Sports on X, Gavaskar can be heard saying, "I have got a gift for you in anticipation of you going past (me). At least you got something to aim for in the next series. It is just a little gift. It is a shirt with SG initials, someone made it for me, I am giving this to you, but I don't know if it will fit you. This is a cap which I give to very few people with my signature. All the best,".
The "Little Master" further uplifted Gill's spirits by promising to wear his lucky jacket, the same one he wore during India's historic Gabba Test victory against Australia in 2021, on the fourth day of the Test. Gavaskar expressed his hope that the jacket would bring India luck as they aimed to bowl England out and level the series.
Gavaskar also lauded the tactical brilliance displayed by Gill and Mohammed Siraj during the final moments of the third day's play. Siraj's clever dismissal of Zak Crawley with a well-disguised yorker, after setting up the field for a different delivery, impressed the former India captain. "That last over was fantastic. Sending a fielder over there, but then bowling the yorker," Gavaskar remarked.
Earlier in the series, Gavaskar had emphasized the importance of exemplary behavior for Gill as he took on the captaincy role. He advised Gill that a captain's conduct is more important than his performance, as it sets the tone for the team. Gavaskar also noted Gill's calm and composed demeanor, comparing him to former successful Indian captains Ajit Wadekar, Kapil Dev, and Rahul Dravid.
While Gill missed out on breaking Gavaskar's record for most runs in a Test series, his performance throughout the series has been remarkable. He has led the team with distinction, displaying both leadership skills and batting prowess. Gavaskar's gesture serves as an emotional nod to Gill, recognizing his achievements and inspiring him to continue striving for excellence.
