Team India, under the leadership of Shubman Gill, is putting up a dominant show in the ongoing first Test against England at Leeds, sending a strong message that the post-Kohli-Rohit era is in capable hands. The buildup to this high-stakes series was marked by skepticism, as both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had announced their retirement from Test cricket. Many feared that the batting order would falter without the seasoned stalwarts.
However, the youthful Indian side, led by Shubman Gill, has not just risen to the occasion but shattered all the doubts with a record-setting performance. Shubman Gill himself led from the front, scoring a majestic 147 in the first innings. He was joined by Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored a composed 101, and Rishabh Pant, whose attacking 134 added flair to India’s first-innings total of 471. The trio’s contributions laid the foundation for India’s dominance.
England mounted a strong response, narrowing India’s lead to just six runs but the Indian batters were far from done. In the second innings, KL Rahul who had fallen short of a half-century earlier turned the tables with a superb 137. Meanwhile, Pant etched his name in the history books by becoming the first Asian batter to hit centuries in both the innings of a Test in England, following up his first-innings ton with a rapid 118.
With this, India achieved a rare feat, five individual centuries in a single Test match, marking only the sixth instance of such a milestone in the history of the game. The performance not only demonstrated the team’s batting depth but also their ability to absorb pressure and counter-attack effectively.
The former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar weighed in on the momentous performance, offering a subtle jab at the concerns over Virat Kohli’s absence.
Sharing his thoughts on social media, he remarked, “Cricket is a by far the no 1 sport in India. There is tremendous incentive for young kids to take up cricket. Hence ‘What after fab 4, or what after Virat’ is an irrational fear.”
Here is the tweet:
https://x.com/sanjaymanjrekar/status/1937147831053394141
His comment, though indirect, underlined how the new generation is more than ready to shoulder the expectations once held by the iconic veterans but some fans of Virat Kohli didn’t like it and they trolled Sanjay Manjrekar left and right.
Check out some selected reactions:
https://x.com/AirdropHunterze/status/1937148533909356948
https://x.com/insight_cr84345/status/1937192228302344320
https://x.com/NarasimhaRN5/status/1937153151599305185
https://x.com/Patel_Arvind/status/1937177397234962713
https://x.com/lexin0101/status/1937162998843416654
https://x.com/SudarshanMU2004/status/1937149919657071098
https://x.com/satishkarjol/status/1937403729805807761
https://x.com/QuickrOlx/status/1937157153565163926
This Test at Leeds is not just a match, it’s a defining moment signalling the arrival of India’s next cricketing era. By the way, what is your opinion on Sanjay Manjrekar’s tweet?
