Shubman Gill Earns High Praise from Brett Lee for Captaincy Debut

In August 2025, former Australia and Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Brett Lee reserved high praise for Shubman Gill's captaincy debut during India's recent five-match Test series against England. The 25-year-old Gill was appointed as India's red-ball captain for the tour, which was dubbed the "Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy."

Lee lauded Gill for standing up for his players during a heated verbal exchange with English opener Zak Crawley at Lord's. The Indian skipper was visibly upset with Crawley's time-wasting tactics and gave the batter an earful, which Lee said was the right thing for a good leader to do.

Gill's captaincy also brought the best out of him as a player. The right-handed batter amassed 754 runs across 10 innings at an impressive average of 75.40, becoming the first player to hit four centuries in his debut Test series as captain. Lee stated that the added responsibility of leading the team suited Gill's style of cricket and helped him thrive.

The former pacer emphasized that Gill's ability to lead from the front and support his players earned him the respect of the Indian dressing room. He advised the young captain to continue with the same approach, focusing on scoring runs and managing feisty characters like Mohammed Siraj in the team.

India drew the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2-2 after clinching a thrilling six-run victory in the fifth Test at The Oval, London. Gill's standout performance and captaincy have set high expectations for the talented batter's future.