India, Aug. 4 -- This English summer will be remembered for its combative Test cricket, but also for Shubman Gill's emergence as Indian cricket's heir apparent. His first assignment as Test captain was trial by fire. A team in transition after three stalwarts had retired and the challenge of managing his best bowler's workload apart, the onus was also on bettering his own individual numbers.

But Gill will return with great memories. He produced one of the great individual performances by a captain in Test history. His 754 runs in 10 innings, with four centuries, were more than just numbers. They were the backbone of India's resistance as he lived up to his philosophy for the team - "never give up". Only Don Bradman, with 810 runs in the ...