5th Test: Shubman Gill’s Batting Will Be Crucial, Says Varun Aaron

As India ended Day 2 of the 5th Test at 75 runs for 2 wickets, former fast bowler Varun Aaron said that how Captain Shubman Gill bats on Day 3 will be very important in deciding the course of the match. At the moment, India holds a small lead of 52 runs over England.

India’s Comeback and Gill’s Importance

India’s early setbacks in the second innings came after KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan were dismissed cheaply. However, Yashasvi Jaiswal steadied the innings with a brave half-century, giving India some breathing space.

Speaking to JioHotstar, Aaron said: “Shubman Gill will avoid taking unnecessary risks, that’s for sure. But I hope he continues batting the way he has throughout this series. He has already broken several records and may even go past Sunil Gavaskar’s record in this series.”

“If Gill scores a big innings tomorrow, India can stretch their lead beyond 300 runs, which would give them a solid upper hand. His batting will play a key role in India’s strategy.”

Strong Bowling Performance by Siraj and Krishna

Earlier in the day, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna brought India back into the game by taking four wickets each, bowling out England for 247 runs after they were comfortably placed at 92 for 1.

Aaron praised their performance, saying:

“Siraj is someone who always bounces back. His first spell may be expensive, but he always aims for wickets. Today, he used the wobble seam technique smartly and bowled his best when it mattered most.”

He further added:

“That ball which moved back in and got the left-hander out LBW was a perfect example of Siraj’s strength. He’s full of energy and never gives up — he’s like a lionheart.”

Talking about Prasidh Krishna, Aaron said:

“This was Prasidh’s day to shine. After Siraj bowled a long spell and Akash Deep did his job of containing runs, Prasidh took key wickets that stopped England from building momentum. Without him, we might have been forced to rely on spin, which could have allowed aggressive batters like Harry Brook to attack.”

“Thanks to Prasidh, the team’s bowlers are still fresh and confident for the next innings.”

Captaincy and Team Effort Praised

Aaron also appreciated Shubman Gill’s calm leadership under pressure.

“England started the day attacking, but the Indian bowlers remained calm. Gill, as captain, didn’t panic and kept his field placements balanced. Most importantly, he didn’t allow England to get a big lead.”

He noted that Jaiswal’s bold batting, although risky at times, helped India maintain a good scoring rate, something the team has struggled with in this series.

“Now that India is 50+ runs ahead, the team is in a decent position. If they can build on this tomorrow, they might take full control of the game.”

Jan Jagran Darpan’s View

After carefully reviewing all updates and insights from trusted cricket sources, the Editorial Team at Jan Jagran Darpan believes that the match is finely balanced. India’s ability to increase the lead and manage their bowling workload could make a big difference in the final result.
The next day’s play, especially Shubman Gill’s innings, will be critical in determining whether India can seal the series on a high.