Moeen Ali, the former England all-rounder, thinks Shubman Gill’s aggressive behavior during the Lord’s Test was like Virat Kohli’s intense style, and it might have accidentally motivated England to play even better.
While playing for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Global Super League (GSL) on Wednesday, Moeen said, I think it’s okay. He’s just trying to compete and is similar to Virat.
Still, Moeen thinks Gill’s way of doing things could have pushed England to step up their game.
By doing that, you might have brought out the best in England, that fighting spirit they have, he said. It seems like a different England team. They’ve shown all the players that winning the series is important. I don’t get why it’s being criticized.
Gill has played well for India in the series, scoring a century at Headingley and then a record-breaking century and a double century in the second Test at Birmingham, which India won easily by 336 runs. His performance dropped at Lord’s, though, where he scored 16 and 6 and had arguments with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett.
Former India players Sanjay Manjrekar and Mohammad Kaif have suggested that Gill’s aggression at Lord’s may have backfired.
India ended up losing by 22 runs in the third Test, getting out for 170 while trying to chase 193, even though Ravindra Jadeja led a strong fightback from the lower order.
Moeen, who has played with Jadeja for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, praised the Indian all-rounder’s batting but admitted he hasn’t taken many wickets in this series.
He knows what he’s doing. He’s been doing it for years. He’s been amazing with the bat this series, Moeen said. He hasn’t taken many wickets, but he does his job. He’s very consistent. He can bowl, but he’s not outstanding. I think he’s batting at his best right now. He just hasn’t gotten the wickets he deserves, but he’s bowled well.
People are increasingly calling for Kuldeep Yadav to be included in the playing XI, and Moeen agrees, but cautiously.
I’d like to see Kuldeep in the team, but I don’t know who he’d replace. Washington has bowled well, and Jadeja has batted well. So it’s hard to bring Kuldeep Yadav in. I’d like to see him play, but I don’t think they can fit him in.
Thinking about the close Lord’s Test, Moeen said England’s calmness, especially in the third innings, helped them win the match.
Things can happen at Lord’s. The ball always does something, even when it seems easy to bat, there are times when it gets a bit difficult.
KL (Rahul) played really well on that wicket. It was a very close game.
England, after dealing with tough conditions on the first morning and scoring 387 in the first innings, managed to get a small lead that turned out to be important.
We were lucky; it was very close. England just scored a few more runs in the third innings, which was probably easier than the fourth innings, Moeen said. England got through the tough period on the first morning at Lord’s. Scoring 387 in the first innings in that situation was great.
As the five-match series goes on, Gill’s fighting spirit, England’s toughness, and India’s selection problems are all making it an exciting contest between two evenly matched teams.