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“Big feather in…”: Markram salutes Gill’s England heroics before IND-SA Tests

Aakash Saini

Shubman Gill and Aiden Markram [Source: AFP, @PoppingCreaseSA/x]Shubman Gill and Aiden Markram [Source: AFP, @PoppingCreaseSA/x]

South African veteran Aiden Markram has tipped his hat to Indian Test captain Shubman Gill for his batting heroics in England earlier this year. Leading Team India for the very first time in the format, Gill embraced the tough English tour by top-scoring in the series with over 750 runs at an average of 75.40.

It is worth noting that both Markram and Gill will be at loggerheads at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata later this week for the upcoming two-match Test series between reigning WTC holders South Africa and hosts India.

Aiden Markram applauds red-ball rise of Shubman Gill

While speaking ahead of the series-opener and as quoted by the Star Sports network, South African cricketer Aiden Markram praised Shubman Gill for coming up clutch in England earlier this year. 

Markram believes that scoring big Test runs in England is a “big feather in the cap” for any cricketer aspiring to be a successful red-ball batter. He said:

“You score red-ball runs in England, that is a big feather in your cap, and he did just that.”

Shubman Gill aggregated 754 runs across 10 innings of the five-match Test series in England at an average of 75.40, plundering four huge centuries in the process. The elegant Indian batter also notched up his career-best score in the format, that of an epic 269 in Birmingham in July.

Shubman Gill also compiled 192 runs in just three home innings against West Indies at a prolific average of 96, to compound nearly a thousand runs already in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle.

After finding welcome success against England and West Indies in his first two series as captain, Shubman Gill now braces for his sternest challenge yet, a face-off against reigning WTC champions South Africa, as India look to assert their dominance in what promises to be a fiercely contested home showdown.

The first Test of the two-match series will be played between November 14 and November 18 at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata.