![Shubman Gill elated after series win vs WI [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1760421630290_Shubman_Gill_India_West_Indies.jpg?type=hq)
Shubman Gill elated after series win vs WI [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X.com]
Shubman Gill registered his first series victory as Test captain as India beat the West Indies by 7 wickets in the second Test to seal a 2-0 dominant victory.
After scoring 518 runs in the first inning, India bowled out the West Indies for 248, thus enforcing a follow-on. However, the early call backfired as the visitors showed resistance with a 390-run total in the third inning.
Regardless, the 121-run target was a cakewalk for India as they chased it down in the first session of day 5 to secure a whitewash series victory.
Shubman Gill comes clean on the follow-on decision
In the post-match presentation ceremony, Indian captain Shubman Gill described leading the national team as a “big honour” and said he is gradually getting used to the responsibilities that come with the role.
"Yes, definitely. It is quite a big honour to lead India. Yes, I would say that I am getting used to it. I'm getting used to managing players now. Leading this team is a great honour. I mean, it is about choosing the right options and considering the situation at that time. It's about taking the right options in the given situation."
Reflecting on the decision to enforce the follow-on with a 270-run lead, Gill said the team didn’t want to have a situation where they have to go for 6-7 wickets on day 5.
"I try to make the most probable decision in the middle. Sometimes you have to take the bold decisions. Sometimes you have to get those X-factor players, depending on which player can get you certain runs or can get you those wickets. We were nearly 300 runs ahead in the first innings. We thought, even if we scored like 500 odd runs and had to get 6 or 7 wickets on day 5 on this wicket, which could be tough for us. So, that was the thought process behind enforcing follow-on."
Gill also spoke about nurturing younger players like Nitish Reddy, saying they want to groom certain players for all conditions and not just overseas tours, as it leads to more pressure.
"[Nitish Reddy] didn't get to bowl in this game. We don't want players to only play matches overseas. That puts a lot of pressure on the players. We want to groom certain players that we think can help us win matches overseas, because that has been a challenge for us."
"See, I've been batting since I was 3 or 4 years old. So, whenever I go out to bat, I want to make decisions as a batter. The one thing that you always strive for is how to make your team win a match. And as a batter, when I'm going out there, that's the only thought that I have even from the young age."
That being said, Shubman Gill will now fly to Australia to lead India in the 3-game ODI series, marking his first stint as ODI captain.
