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STUMP VISION JUNE 06, 2025 | The Indian Eye 42

TEST CAPTAINCY

New Skipper, Old Test: Shubman Gill’s Trial

by Fire all set to begin in England

As Shubman Gill takes the reins of India’s Test team, the young captain faces a formidable baptism — rebuilding a legacy

side, finding his leadership voice, and conquering the toughest challenge in cricket: winning a Test series in England

OUR BUREAU the green pitches are notorious for ex-
posing even the most seasoned Indian
Mumbai
batters. For a young, transitional side,
hen 25-year-old Shubman these challenges are magnified.
Gill walks out for the toss India’s last tour to England saw
Wat Lord’s this summer, he moments of brilliance, including an
won’t just be India’s youngest full-time explosive hundred from Rishabh Pant,
Test captain since Sachin Tendulkar — but consistency was missing. This time,
he’ll be the face of a cricketing transi- India arrives with a reshuffled lineup,
tion fraught with challenges. After the a fresh leadership core, and questions
retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat hanging over their ability to seize mo-
Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin, In- mentum in the longer format.
dia’s new red-ball leader is tasked with Beyond the captaincy, Gill may
steering a restructured team through also take on another critical role —
its most uncertain phase in over a the No. 4 batting position, vacated by
decade. And the first test of his cap- Kohli. It’s a spot that has seen India’s
taincy? A grueling five-match series two greatest batters — Tendulkar
in England — historically, the sport’s and Kohli — accumulate more than
most unforgiving away assignment. 21,000 Test runs combined. The
India’s golden generation of Test pressure is immense, but the logic
cricket has exited almost in unison. is sound. Gill has the technical fi-
Between them, Rohit, Kohli, and nesse and temperament for the role,
Ashwin carried India through its and occupying it could give him the
most successful period in the format control and impact a captain needs
since the 2010s, bringing resilience during key phases of the match.
at home and respect abroad. Their Beyond technique, Gill knows
departure has left a gaping hole — that endurance will be key. “A five-
not just in the scorecards, but in the Test series is not just physical — it’s
dressing room, where experience and mental,” he said. “Red-ball cricket
tactical depth once sat. challenges you in layers. It’s long, it’s
The numbers are stark. In a sin- grinding, and every session can shift
gle year, India has lost a collective 296 the series.”
Test matches’ worth of experience. To prepare, Gill and his team have
The middle order is in flux, the spin been immersed in scenario-based sim-
department is rebuilding, and the Shubman Gill (ANI) ulations, focusing on strategy, resil-
leadership group has been reshuffled. ience, and adaptability. The backroom
The baton now lies with Gill — a man compartments. spiration in passion and aggression; staff is emphasizing mental condition-
known for his elegance with the bat, “When I’m at the crease, I need from Rohit, he has learned calm tac- ing as much as physical fitness, know-
but still learning the ropes of high- to think like a batsman, not a captain,” tical awareness and the importance of ing that sustained focus over six weeks
stakes leadership. Gill explained. “If I start thinking communication. in England can be the difference be-
“It’s definitely overwhelming,” about tactics while batting, it puts extra Gill’s vision now faces its ultimate tween glory and heartbreak.
Gill admitted in a recent interview with pressure. I want the freedom to make proving ground: a full-length Test series Shubman Gill is not just leading a
the Indian team’s official Instagram instinctive decisions at the crease.” in England — a place where Indian cap- team. He is leading a transition, a cul-
channel. “To lead India in Test cricket His leadership style, Gill says, is tains have historically struggled. Only tural reset, and a new chapter in Indi-
is a dream — and a big responsibility. built on understanding personalities. once in nearly 90 years has India won a an Test cricket. The road is steep, the
But it’s also an exciting opportunity.” “A good leader knows what makes five-Test series in England, the legend- challenge is historic — but for India’s
Gill isn’t entering the captaincy each player tick. Everyone has differ- ary 1986 tour under Kapil Dev. Since youngest Test captain in decades, this
unprepared. He’s already had stints ent life experiences, and to bring the then, England has remained an elu- is the beginning of something poten-
as skipper in the Indian Premier best out of them, you have to know sive frontier for India’s Test ambitions. tially great.
League and in a brief T20I series in them beyond just cricket.” Conditions in England test ev- If the boy wonder from Punjab
Zimbabwe. There, he discovered a Gill also credits Rohit Sharma ery facet of a player’s game — swing, can weather the English storm, he
crucial insight — that captaincy and and Virat Kohli for shaping his ap- seam, patience, and temperament. might just emerge as the leader Indian
batting must occupy different mental proach. From Kohli, he draws in- The Dukes ball, the damp skies, and cricket has been searching for.

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