Sidharth Monga

India

Senior Writer at ESPN Cricinfo

Articles

Shubman Gill takes control to stamp authority as captain

1 day ago | espn.in | Sidharth Monga

Cold logic had no doubt Shubman Gill was going to score plenty of runs on Bazball pitches against a pace attack whose leader is Chris Woakes and others haven't played more than five Tests. Cold logic was reasonably certain Gill was going to score a hundred in one of the five Tests even if these were not Bazball pitches and there was a more menacing attack to face. For how long can this special batter keep missing out?
Recent Match Report - England vs India 1st Test 2025

1 day ago | espn.in | Matt Roller |Sidharth Monga

India 359 for 3 (Gill 127*, Jaiswal 101, Pant 65*) vs EnglandThe two faces of India's new generation of Test batters traded sparkling centuries to dominate England on the opening day at Headingley. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill cruised to hundreds as opener and No. 4 respectively, shrugging off the absence of two modern greats whose retirements have vacated those roles: no Rohit, no Virat, no problem.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and an exceptional understanding of how to score runs

1 day ago | espn.in | Sidharth Monga

Yashasvi Jaiswal is insatiable. When he is training in Talegao in Maharashtra at the Rajasthan Royals High Performance Centre, he can go through more than 100 overs of batting in one day. That's sidearm, bowling, manual throwing, all by different people from different angles with little or no breaks. In a two-hour net session with teams he is with, he can hog one net for upwards of an hour. He has been talked into being more mindful of other players' needs, which he has respected.
New era, no aura? Gill and Pant have other things to worry about

2 days ago | espn.in | Sidharth Monga

Aura is arguably the most abused term in sports discourse in recent times. If you know what I mean, you have seen videos mocking Shubman Gill's slightly high-pitched voice chirping from behind the wicket. In comparison to Virat Kohli's supposedly more manly and aggressive sledging, that is. You may have seen videos of Gill goofing around with his friend Ishan Kishan, and worried about the aura, or lack thereof. You may have scoffed at the PRINCE on his bat, and felt he hasn't earned it yet.
Gill says India will go all out to take 20 wickets: 'You could maybe see four proper bowlers'

2 days ago | espn.in | Sidharth Monga

Expect India to stop hedging bets as they did in Australia. India's new captain Shubman Gill said on the eve of the start of the series at Headingley that he was prepared to play even four tailenders in pursuit of 20 wickets as quickly as possible. "Yes, definitely." Gill said in response to the question. "You can't win a Test match without taking 20 wickets, no matter how many runs you have scored. So, that has been one of our key discussion points, you know, how we're gonna take 20 wickets.
Pant relishes 'senior' tag but also focuses on 'individual' game

3 days ago | espn.in | Sidharth Monga

That Rishabh Pant and Sunil Gavaskar could turn the "stupid, stupid, stupid" bit into a commercial is as big a sign as any that what might at first appear stupid - Gavaskar's words, not ours - from Pant can turn out to be beneficial for all concerned after all. It is the usual tight rope that maverick batters such as Pant must walk: pundits tend to comment on the results, not the process. When audacious batting comes off and spreads fields, the same pundits appear in awe.
Pant says Gill will bat at No. 4, India yet to decide No. 3 option

3 days ago | espn.in | Sidharth Monga

India's vice-captain Rishabh Pant has confirmed Shubman Gill will take the No. 4 position vacated by former captain and India's fourth-highest run-getter in Test cricket, Virat Kohli. Pant said India are still deliberating over who will move to No. 3, the slot last occupied by Gill, who is the new captain after Rohit Sharma's retirement. The options for No. 3 seem to be the returning Karun Nair and the uncapped B Sai Sudharsan, who is rated highly by experts.
India's commitment to wicket-taking will be Gill's first big test

4 days ago | espn.in | Sidharth Monga

That wonderful feel of slowly building anticipation for Test cricket is upon us. There has already been the wonderful World Test Championship final, but the week in the lead-up to the start of a five-Test series is something else.
Dry Leeds could bring batters respite

4 days ago | espn.in | Sidharth Monga

It's not often that Headingley gets the first Test of the series in England. Headingley usually hosts a Test much later in the summer, usually the third of the series. Add to it that there has hardly been any rain in Leeds since February. So Richard Robson, Yorkshire's head of grounds, has had to carry out a "different kind" of preparation for the Test. Don't be alarmed by the green look - indistinguishable from the square really - the pitch wears three days out. It will get a nice trim and a roll.
England the next stop in Jaiswal's audacious journey

5 days ago | espn.in | Sidharth Monga

Open trials are a wonderfully democratic notion. A place where you can bypass the need for local loyalties and connections. Especially when said trials are being conducted by an IPL team. However, in reality you have a short window of time to impress while dealing with bowlers you most certainly have not seen before, or known their names or which part of the country they are from.