As Shubman Gill continues his impressive performance in the ongoing Test series against England, former Indian cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar has weighed in on the young captain's chances of breaking Don Bradman's long-standing record for the most runs in a single Test series. While acknowledging Gill's exceptional form, Vengsarkar has challenged him to focus on winning matches for the country rather than obsessing over personal milestones.
Gill has been in scintillating form, having already amassed 585 runs in just four innings, including three centuries. This remarkable performance has placed him within striking distance of Bradman's record of 974 runs, set during the 1930 Ashes series. With three Tests still to play, the possibility of Gill surpassing the legendary Australian's record is a major talking point in the cricketing world.
Vengsarkar, while speaking to the media, lauded Gill's performance as both captain and batsman. He emphasized the importance of Gill scoring runs to lead from the front and take charge of the team. The former Indian captain acknowledged that Gill has a great opportunity to break Bradman's record, but he also cautioned against getting caught up in the pursuit of personal milestones.
"Well, he is in great form and he is an outstanding batsman. I hope he does that. I don't know whether he will do it, but I am sure that he has got an opportunity," Vengsarkar said. "But then, what is important is not (get into chasing) personal milestone. Because we are obsessed with personal milestone, which is wrong. The important (point) is to win matches for our country. That is what matters. And the impact of innings or a spell is what matters in the ultimate analysis".
Vengsarkar's advice to Gill is to prioritize the team's success over individual achievements. He believes that winning matches for the country should be the primary focus, and the impact of an innings or a spell is what ultimately matters. This perspective aligns with the broader sentiment that cricket is a team sport, and individual brilliance should contribute to the collective goal of victory.
Shubman Gill is currently leading the Indian team in the absence of senior players, and his performance has been crucial in India's comeback in the series after levelling the series 1-1 in Edgbaston. Vengsarkar believes that Gill's high scores have strengthened his position as captain, allowing him to "call the shots" and lead the team effectively.
While the allure of breaking Don Bradman's record is undeniable, Dilip Vengsarkar's message to Shubman Gill is clear: focus on winning matches for India, and personal milestones will take care of themselves. Whether Gill can surpass Bradman's record remains to be seen, but his primary objective should be to lead India to victory in the remaining Test matches.