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India‘s emphatic 336-run victory in the second Test at Edgbaston not only levelled the series 1-1 but also witnessed a legendary personal performance from captain Shubman Gill, who amassed 269 and 161, the most runs by an Indian captain in a single Test. But what made headlines off the field was Gill’s light-hearted moment at the post-match press conference, where he called out BBC journalist Joe Wilson, who had earlier brought up India’s poor history at Edgbaston.
Shubman Gill trolls BBC reporter after historic win at Edgbaston
Following his side’s historic victory, Gill entered the press conference with a broad smile, clearly enjoying the moment. Addressing the room, he took a playful jab at BBC’s Wilson, who had referenced India’s losing record at Edgbaston prior to the match.
“I can’t see my favourite journalist. Where is he? I wanted to see him,” Gill said.
Indian Test skipper, Gill followed it up with a sharp yet composed statement about why past statistics didn’t bother this Indian side:
“I even said before the Test match that I don’t really believe in history and stats. Over the last 56 years or so, we’ve played nine matches, different teams have come here. I believe we are the best team to have come here to England, and we have the capability to beat them, to win the series from here. If we keep making the right decisions and keep fighting, I think it would be one of the series to remember,” Gill concluded.
Prior to the match, Wilson had pointed out India’s historically poor record at Edgbaston, where they had never won a Test. Rather than bristle at the statistic, Gill took it in stride and used it as silent motivation. After scripting one of the most dominant batting displays by an Indian abroad, his return to the media room was as assertive as his cover drives.
Joe Wilson reacts to Gill’s jibe ahead of ENG vs IND Lord’s Test
Wilson, the man at the centre of Gill’s cheeky press room banter, responded graciously in an interview with RevSportz, acknowledging Gill’s point and praising his leadership:
“What the captain said, very sensibly, was that if you look back to the 1960s, 1970s, even 1980s, let’s say, there was a different feel to the Indian team when they traveled abroad. There was no expectation from them to win. Now, they do expect to win. So maybe that was just statistics, in terms of history. Maybe, it was a motivation. Because we lost count of the records that Shubman himself and India broke. How to get Shubman out, that would be the no. 1,”
When asked whether he would repeat such a comment ahead of the Lord’s Test, Wilson added:
“I would say anything to motivate him, maybe, who knows. I think he is a real gentleman. He answers every question with great dignity. We love to talk about statistics, don’t we? It was fun,”
With the series level and momentum on India’s side, all eyes now turn to Lord’s, where the third Test begins on July 10. Gill, after conquering Edgbaston, has a new challenge, to inscribe his name at the Mecca of Cricket, where legends are made, and every century becomes a legacy.
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