Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif showered praise on Shubman Gill after the visitors managed to draw the Manchester Test against England. Gill was dismissed cheaply on 12 runs in the first innings but he was able to deliver in the second dig.

The Indian captain scored a fighting knock of 103 runs off 238 balls in the second innings. Gill also added a crucial alliance of 188 runs with opener KL Rahul after India was left tottering at 0-2. The tourists had conceded a huge lead of 311 runs and thus had their backs against the wall.

Gill has been in immaculate form on the England tour as he has amassed 722 runs in four Test matches at an impressive average of 90.25.

Kaif noted that Gill was calm as a leader and didn’t try to impersonate former Indian skipper Virat Kohli, which he was doing in the Lord’s Test.

Mohammad Kaif said on his YouTube Channel, “In this Test, you must have seen that whenever the camera zoomed in on him, he was calm. He realized his mistake of trying to impersonate Virat Kohli… He realized his calm nature, and it transpired in his batting. He showed that he has temperament.”

The Natwest Trophy final hero added that not playing Kuldeep Yadav was a huge mistake. Kaif wants Yadav to play the fifth Test irrespective of the conditions at the Oval.

Kaif added, “Kuldeep Yadav not playing was a huge mistake in Manchester… you needed a left-arm spinner. I think he will play the next Test match at The Oval because India are 1-2 behind in the series.”

“You have to win The Oval Test. If you lose it, then you’ll lose the series. You have to win to level the series. You can’t even draw. To win, you need 20 wickets. To bag 20 wickets, you’ve to play better bowlers in the XI. You need Kuldeep Yadav in the next Test match regardless of the conditions, seaming or overcast,” he added.

The fifth and final Test match between England and India will be played at the Kennington Oval, London, from 31st July onwards.