India were fantastic under Shubman Gill: Jamie Smith denies inexperience claims

England batter Jamie Smith has come out in defence of the Indian Test side following their five-wicket defeat at Headingley, suggesting that India’s performance under new captain Shubman Gill was far from lacking experience—contrary to what much of the external criticism has implied.

India may have started the Gill era with a defeat, but the four days of high-intensity Test cricket offered glimpses of potential and intent. Gill himself led from the front with a fine 147 in the first innings, part of India’s imposing 471-run total. However, the visitors could not quite sustain the momentum with the ball in the final innings as England pulled off a remarkable 371-run chase to clinch the series opener.

Despite the outcome, Smith—who contributed key knocks of 40 and an unbeaten 44, including the winning runs—praised the Indian side’s resilience and the efforts they put into the final day of play.

“When they’re trying to get 10 wickets and you’re chasing 370, it’s not everyday that gets done. There could have been some head-downs at the end but they kept trying all day. I see a lot of chat about maybe some inexperience on their part but I thought they were fantastic throughout the five days,” Smith told ESPNCricinfo.

With senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli missing, Gill led a young and ambitious side through what was a tightly contested match for the most part. The signs of a transition in Indian Test cricket were evident, but there were also familiar frailties—dropped catches, untimely batting collapses, and a lack of sting in the bowling on a flat Day 4 pitch.

Still, Smith acknowledged the intensity and pressure of the occasion, particularly for a new skipper trying to lead by example.

“It’s hard when you’re out there and you’re focused on the job at hand... You know the importance of that moment, when you have the opportunity to start the series with a win, that your focus is all on that,” he added.

For Gill and India, the Headingley loss may not have been the dream start—but Smith’s remarks serve as a reminder that the margin between criticism and perspective in elite sport is often razor-thin