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    STUMP VISION                                                             JUNE 27, 2025     |  The Indian Eye 45

               Gill’s Test: A New Captain, A New

                           Vision for India in England

                 As India kicks off its 5-match Test series against England, all eyes are on Shubman

                     Gill—the 25-year-old captain steering India into a new era of red-ball cricket

            ASIM KHANNA
            Leeds (UK)
            A
                  fresh chapter in Indian cricket begins at
                  Headingley on June 20, as Shubman Gill
                  takes the reins of the Test team for the first
            time. At just 25, Gill is India’s youngest Test cap-
            tain in years and inherits a team in transition—
            one that must now build a legacy without modern
            greats like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. But Gill
            appears unfazed by the pressure, bringing with him
            a calm demeanor, a collaborative mindset, and a
            firm focus on execution.
                “Captaining your country, especially in Test
            cricket, is the biggest honour a player can get,” Gill
            said ahead of the series. “Not many get this oppor-
            tunity, and I’m very excited for the challenge.”
                Gill’s  leadership  vision  is  built  around  trust,
            collaboration, and creating a player-first environ-
            ment. He shares a close working relationship with
            vice-captain Rishabh Pant, and the two have a uni-
            fied view of what team culture should look like.
                “Rishabh and I have played a lot of cricket to-
            gether, and our thinking is quite aligned,” Gill said.
            “We want to build a culture where everyone feels
            secure. I believe players perform their best when
            they feel validated and safe.”
                With a young squad and high expectations,
            Gill knows his ability to foster confidence in the
            dressing room may be as important as tactical nous
            on the field.
                When it comes to strategy, Gill is crystal clear
            on the fundamentals: take 20 wickets. “In Test                  Gill will lead India in the Test series in England starting on Saturday (ANI)
            matches, you can’t win without taking 20 wickets—
            no matter how many runs you score,” he asserted  coach Gary Kirsten believes Gill is well-prepared  iconic venues—Headingley, Edgbaston, Lord’s,
            at the pre-match press conference in Leeds.  to shoulder the responsibility.               Old Trafford, and The Oval—between June 20 and
                The Indian captain emphasized the role of his   “I think Shubman is going to be a great lead-  August 4. England has retained most of the squad
            bowlers  and indicated the team was weighing a  er,” Kirsten told JioHotstar. “He’s smart, under-  that featured in their recent Test against Zimba-
            balanced approach to squad selection. “We’re con-  stands the game, and has a great temperament.  bwe, with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett opening,
            sidering going with six pure batters, one bowling  He’s also a good human being, which is really im-  and Ollie Pope at number three.
            all-rounder, and three or four premier fast bowl-  portant in leadership. He will be tested, but I think   India, meanwhile, will look to youth and mo-
            ers,” Gill revealed. He also noted that England’s  he’ll come through.”                    mentum. The squad includes rising talents like
            summer conditions have been drier than usual,    Though Gill has not captained India in Tests  Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudarshan, Karun Nair, and
            prompting the team to delay final decisions on the  before, he brings leadership experience from the  Nitish Kumar Reddy, alongside seasoned bowlers
            playing XI until they had one last look at the pitch.  IPL, where he helms the Gujarat Titans, and from  and dynamic all-rounders.
                India’s bowling attack includes Jasprit Bum-  a brief T20I captaincy stint in Zimbabwe last year.   For Gill, this is not just a test series. It’s a prov-
            rah, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna, with  He also served as vice-captain during India’s victo-  ing ground—not only for his team but for his own
            support  from  all-rounders  like  Ravindra  Jadeja  rious Champions Trophy campaign in early 2025.  leadership. With the World Test Championship
            and Washington Sundar. On pitches expected to    With 32 Tests, 1,893 runs, and five centuries  mace in sight and a cricketing nation behind him,
            assist both seam and spin, this blend could be cru-  to his name, Gill has already proven his pedigree  he now leads the charge into a new era.
            cial to executing Gill’s “20-wicket” doctrine.  as a batter. Now, the challenge is to transfer that   “This is the beginning of something special,”
                Backing for a Young Leader               composure to captaincy on foreign soil against a  he said, hinting at both promise and purpose.
                Gill’s elevation to captaincy—despite limited  formidable English side.                   And if the tone he’s set is any indication, Indi-
            red-ball leadership experience—has won approval   The Road Ahead                           an Test cricket under Shubman Gill might just be in
            from seasoned cricket experts. Former India head   The  five-match  Test  series  will  take  place  at  safe—and bold—hands.

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