'I was a baby, Gill is a leader' – Sunil Gavaskar declares Shubman’s 754 vs England more valuable than his own 774 vs West Indies in 1971

Legendary India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar said Shubman Gill's 754 runs are far better than what he achieved way back in 1971.

Gill finished with 754 runs, just 20 short of Gavaskar's record of 774, during the fifth Test against England in London on August 3.


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"I think in anticipation of him going past my record, I got something for him. But well, I mean, this is all in God's hands. But 754 runs, it's fantastic," he said on Sony Sports.

"The difference is that 754 came with the additional responsibility of being captain. I was the baby of the team. You know, it wouldn't have mattered if I had failed.


"Nobody would have given a hoot if I had failed. But to be the captain and score 750-plus runs—750-plus runs where he's making a difference to his side's fortunes. Don’t go by those 20 runs, but just see what that 754 has done for Indian cricket."

Following the day's play, Gavaskar presented Gill with a personalized shirt bearing his initials "SG" and a special autographed cap.

"I have got a gift for you in anticipation of you going past (me). At least you’ve got something to aim for in the next series. It is just a little gift. It is a shirt with SG initials; someone made it for me, and I am giving this to you, but I don't know if it will fit you. This is a cap that I give to very few people with my signature. All the best," Gavaskar told Gill in a video shared on X by Sony Sports.


The match saw an impressive tactical display by Gill and Mohammed Siraj in the final moments of Day 3. They executed a clever strategy by setting up the field for a bouncer but instead delivered a yorker that dismissed Zak Crawley.

Gavaskar expressed his admiration for the tactical play and made a promise regarding the next day's play: "That last over was fantastic. Sending a fielder over there but then bowling the yorker. Tomorrow I am going to wear my lucky jacket, which I wore in Australia—the white one during the Gabba Test—on the last day."


The recent 11-run innings also placed Gill second on the list of most runs scored by an Indian in a single Test series, with 754 runs. Sunil Gavaskar holds the record with 774 runs against West Indies in 1971.

The list of highest runs in a single Test series by Indians includes Gavaskar's 732 runs against West Indies, Yashasvi Jaiswal's 712 runs against England, and Virat Kohli's 692 runs against Australia.

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