Former England captain Michael Vaughan has boldly predicted that Indian skipper Shubman Gill will push his Test batting average past 45 by the conclusion of the ongoing five-Test 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Vaughan’s commentary comes on the heels of Gill’s phenomenal performance in the first innings of the second Test at Edgbaston, where he blazed to a brilliant 269 runs from 387 deliveries. This monumental innings not only stands as the highest score by an Indian captain in Test matches, eclipsing Virat Kohli’s previous best, but also marks the highest score by an Indian batter in a Test played outside of Asia, surpassing even the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
Prior to this remarkable innings, Gill, who has played 33 matches, held a Test average of 36.57, with a record of six centuries and seven half-centuries. His masterful 269 immediately elevated his average beyond 40, to precisely 40.65, and he still has the potential for another innings in the current match. This double century also marks his second hundred of the series, having previously scored 147 at Headingley, despite that effort coming in a five-wicket defeat for India.
Michael Vaughan shared his insights with the broadcasters, stating, “At the start of the series, I said that his average of 35 in cricket, that’s not high enough for his quality.” He continued, expressing his confidence in Gill’s trajectory, “I said by the end of his career he’ll be averaging 45. I think probably by the end of this series he will be averaging 45. He’s made a terrific start. He is the captain, second time out and he’s now two from two. Magnificent.”
Well Played, Skipper!
