India skipper Shubman Gill has said that the belief that the team can stage a turnaround on the final day in the fourth Test against England came from his partnership with KL Rahul, and in doing so, they showed why they are a great team.
Starting their second innings 311 runs behind after England piled up a massive first-innings total, Gill, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar struck gritty centuries to rescue their team from the brink of defeat and remain in contention to level the five-match series.
“To be able to have that same mindset for 140 overs is very difficult, and that is what differentiates a good team from a great team, and I think we showed that today. That is why we are a great team. Zero for two, and then my partnership with KL bhai… I think that's what ignited the belief that yes, we can achieve this task. Extremely, extremely happy. To be able to get a draw from the position that we were in is extremely satisfying,” Gill told the BCCI TV.
Rahul played a timely 90-run knock and was associated in a partnership of 188 runs with Gill, after which Jadeja and Washington took over from where they left. Leading the Test team for the first time, 25-year-old Gill has been in wonderful form in this series, and has already scored 700 runs with four centuries, including a double hundred. But he picked the one at Old Trafford as his best. “I think this inning of mine was the most pleasing to me,” Gill said.
Lauding the character and sense of responsibility shown by Jadeja and Washington, the India skipper said, “When Jaddu bhai and Washy were batting, it was not easy. The ball was doing something, but the way they both batted, so calmly... and to be able to get a Test century from there is when you realise how big an achievement it is.”
Washington’s knock was particularly special as it was his maiden Test hundred. He was delighted to score a hundred when his team needed it the most. “I think this hundred really means a lot and I’d genuinely love to dedicate this to my family because they've been extremely supportive throughout my cricketing career. So, it definitely means a lot, a lot more for them,” said Washington.
He and Jadeja put up an undefeated, match-saving partnership of 223 runs. “Jaddu bhai really played out those crucial spells as spinners were also getting a lot of traction. So, we just wanted to focus really hard on watching the ball and it’s just really special to have actually drawn this game. This draw really means a lot for the whole team, and I’m sure this game is going to give us a lot more confidence," Washington said.
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