Veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has praised Shubman Gill for staying true to himself during press conferences. According to Ashwin, Gill isn't trying to act or impress anyone. Instead, he speaks with honesty and behaves in a calm, natural manner.

Recently, Gill took over the Test captaincy from Rohit Sharma. Although he had a slow start at Headingley, he bounced back and secured his first win as captain at Edgbaston. At just 25 years old, Gill has shown maturity despite the pressure of high expectations and the challenge of replacing Virat Kohli at No. 4 in the batting order.

Ashwin Impressed by Gill’s Authenticity

Ashwin appreciated the way Gill conducts himself in front of the media. He observed that the young captain answers questions with patience and clarity, never trying to show off.

“Shubman has a natural flair. I was watching his press conference, and I immediately found that he is not putting on a show. He is talking like who he is. He is leading the team according to his natural self and skills,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Media Pressure on Captains During Tours

Ashwin also shared how the media can target captains, especially during overseas series, in an attempt to weaken the team mentally. “In overseas tours, the media tries to target the captain because if you bring the captain down, it becomes easy to bring the team down. You can get them to fall like nine pins if you go after the captain,” he added.

Gill Doesn't Follow a Script, Says Ashwin

Ashwin pointed out that many players are trained on what to say during press meets, but Gill stands out for his genuine and confident approach. “Don't take it out of context, but a lot of players are coached about what to say and what to do. That doesn't seem to be the case with Shubman Gill. He looks like a man who is doing what he believes in.”

Gill Silences Doubts with Bat in England

Before the England series, critics raised concerns about Gill's poor overseas record in red-ball cricket. However, he has silenced those voices with outstanding performances in the first two Tests.

In the series opener at Headingley, Gill played a composed innings and scored 147 runs, setting the tone. Then at Edgbaston, he delivered a spectacular 269 in the first innings his first Test double century.

This feat made Gill only the third Indian to score a Test double hundred in England, and the first Indian captain to do so on English soil.

He didn’t stop there. In the second innings, he added another 161 runs, continuing his dominant form and proving he belongs at the top level.