Shubman Gill’s aggression at Lord’s a bit out of character, but that is captain getting up: Ricky Ponting

Batting legend Ricky Ponting said that the aggressive attitude of India Sjubman Gill was «a bit out of character» during the Lord’s test against England, but at the same time considered it a «captain who stood up for his team».

The closely fought game saw a lot of drama on the field, including an animated flare-up between Gill and the English openers towards the end of the third day of the test.

India had succeeded in equalizing the first innings of England of 387 and wanted to press in two overs in the remaining six minutes. However, that was not possible because the English openers took their time to prepare, and Gill exchanged words with Zak Crawley and then Ben Duckett.

Former Australian captain Ponting understood why Gill’s aggressive action at Lord’s was met with surprise.

«That was a bit outside the character of what I have known in Shubman’s past. I am sure everyone who was there, and I know you would know him very well, that’s not what he is generally fun,» Ponting said The ICC assessment.

But Ponting also sympathized with Gill and said it was a case that a young captain took a position for his team under the circumstances.

Read also | Shubman Gill brings ‘spirit of the game’ debate and said that English batters have run out of Lord’s test late

«That is the captain who stands up for his team, that is a captain who really wants to show that it is now his team and this is the way we are going to play the game, and I also think we want to give back a little,» he added.

India lost the test with 22 runs to follow the 1-2 series. The fifth and final test starts here on Wednesday.

Ponting found that Gill traded in a way similar to former Captain Virat Kohli.

“I think he was starting to put his mark in his team. And much like Virat (Kohli) did, similar ways like that. Rohit (Sharma) was probably never so out of the appearance, I think, especially against opposition players. I know he (Rohit) would be to watch the best he had the best to watch the best.

Ponting played tests in England during four separate tours, and twice as a captain (2005 and 2009). He said that the pressure from such a high -profile tour could come to a skipper.

«The UK can be a difficult place to play. The crowd, as much as they love of their play, can be such a hostile place to play everywhere in the world. The media there, when you are in a large series, when it is an axle series or when it is England and India, have the feeling that they are also on top of your back,» Ponting said.