Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra showered praise on Shubman Gill after India registered a six-wicket win against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Tuesday. Chasing 259 runs for the win, Gill scored a fine knock of 80 runs off 75 balls with the help of 11 fours and one six.

However, the Indian skipper was forced to retire hurt due to cramps. Gill added 101 runs off 103 balls with vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, who scored 35 runs.

Gill timed the ball to perfection and continued his love affair of scoring runs at Edgbaston. 

Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “The kind of form he is in, bas nazar na lage kisi ki (may no one’s evil eye be on him). Cross your fingers in both hands because he is batting extremely well. The batter has to help the captain many times. Shubman’s form as a captain is a very heartening sign.”

Chopra said Gill’s form will give him the confidence to lead the team with aplomb.

“It happened in T20s as well, where we saw Shreyas Iyer’s form was good, and here we saw Shubman Gill’s form being good. When you are walking towards a new era, if his form remains good, the decisions don’t become weak, and you can captain well for a long time, even when the results are not going your way because there is no doubt about your own performance,” he observed.

The renowned commentator added that Gill got his field placements right as a skipper against England.

“He has won one series and lost two. So this is a big Test, and I think he did alright in that. The field positions were good at the start. He maintained the pressure. That was quite nice,” he said.

The second ODI between India and England will be played at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff on Thursday.