Trott hails Shubman Gill’s tactical brilliance, praises Jadeja and Jaiswal’s performance

Jonathan Trott praised Shubman Gill’s proactive game plan and leadership, calling him world-class. Varun Aaron lauded Jadeja’s intent and strike rotation, while Trott also noted Jaiswal’s growing maturity in England. Experts credited India’s batting approach for its tactical depth.

Hyderabad: Former England cricketer Jonathan Trott said England pacer Brydon Carse had a bit more pace than Chris Woakes, but what stood out was Shubman Gill’s understanding of how to counter both. He noted that Gill knew Woakes would target the stumps and, lacking express pace, the Indian batter had clearly devised a strategy well in advance not something formulated on the day.

“This is what separates good players from average ones and world-class players from the rest. Having the confidence to execute a plan that’s not necessarily textbook, but gives you an edge over the opposition, is remarkable,” Trott said on JioCinema’s Match Centre Live during the ongoing second Test.

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“As captain, that has a significant impact — not just out in the middle, but also on those watching from the team balcony. What also stood out was his body language and the way he scored his runs,” Trott added.

“His control against the English bowlers sent a message to the dressing room — that he was taking charge, leading from the front. His intent was clear: ‘I’ll be there, I’ll be not out, and I’ll resume tomorrow. I’ll make sure we get into a winning position,’” he said.

“Very impressive from such a young man — a world-class player with a bright future,” Trott said.

JioCinema expert Varun Aaron also praised Ravindra Jadeja’s intent and strike rotation, particularly in how he handled Shoaib Bashir.

“I thought Jaddu’s body language was brilliant. From ball one, he was looking to rotate strike, show intent, and stay mobile at the crease. He didn’t just try to grind it out ball after ball — he was actively looking to make things happen,” Aaron said.

“What stood out was how he approached Bashir. Normally, he’d play him cautiously, but today he took calculated risks — and that’s what mattered,” he added.

“Jadeja ensured the scoreboard kept ticking. By the final session, India were scoring close to four runs an over — and that’s exactly where you want to be. As Ravindra Jadeja, when you’re guiding the lower order, you want to be solid but also bring some aggression,” Aaron explained.

Trott also commended Yashasvi Jaiswal’s maturity and control, while acknowledging areas for improvement.

“There was a bit of contrast — some play-and-misses, but also some exquisite cricket shots. We’ve spoken about how he tends to chase the ball outside off at times, but when he plays straight, he times the ball so well,” he noted.

“Jaiswal doesn’t need to over-hit. We’ve seen him dismantle bowling attacks before, and he’s shown he can hit sixes almost at will. But across these three innings in England, he seems to be in much better control,” he said.

“Jaiswal has developed a game plan — he knows where and when to score. England will try to challenge that with tricky field placements, testing his patience and ego. But overall, very impressive. He’s a fantastic player for India,” Trott added.