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As India prepare to face England in a high-stakes Test series starting June 20 at Headingley, Leeds, the spotlight is firmly on Shubman Gill, who steps into the role of Test captain following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from red-ball cricket. With the recent exits of stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Rohit, and Ravichandran Ashwin from the Test arena, the Gill-led side is poised to usher in a new chapter in Indian cricket.
This tour marks a crucial turning point—not only for the team’s future but also for Gill, who finds himself leading in challenging English conditions in his first full Test series as skipper. The tour will test his tactical instincts and leadership maturity, as India look to continue their dominance in red-ball cricket despite the major transitions.
Shubman Gill opens up on the captaincy styles of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
In a recent conversation with Sky Sports, Gill offered valuable insights into how captaining under both Kohli and Rohit shaped his understanding of leadership. Each brought a unique style to the role, and Gill believes he’s taken the best from both to develop his own identity as captain.
Gill praised Kohli for his sharp instincts and on-field energy, highlighting how Kohli always had a clear backup plan in Test matches. According to Gill, Virat’s proactive approach stood out during critical situations—if a particular strategy wasn’t yielding results, he would immediately communicate an alternate plan to the bowlers.
“When I played under Virat Bhai, his proactiveness stood out. If a plan wasn’t working, he always had a backup ready. He’d immediately communicate with the bowlers and make sure they understood the shift in approach,” said Gill.
In contrast, Gill described Rohit Sharma as someone who might appear calm on the outside but is highly tactical and firm in his decision-making. He emphasized that Rohit is very clear in his communication before, during, and after matches, which helps players understand their roles better. Gill added that even when Rohit gets animated or scolds someone, it never feels personal because of the respectful environment he creates in the team.
“People may think Rohit Bhai is not aggressive, but he is very aggressive tactically. He’s very clear about what he wants before, during, and after a match. Even when he’s strict, you know it’s about the team, not personal,” added Gill.
High hopes from a balanced Indian unit under Gill’s captaincy
With a mix of promising young talent and seasoned match-winners, expectations from the Indian side remain sky-high. Gill will have the luxury of experienced campaigners like KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah in his ranks, while also nurturing the next generation including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Prasidh Krishna.
Gill’s own calm demeanour, coupled with tactical sharpness, will be tested in a series that historically favours seamers and demands adaptability. The upcoming series in England is not just another overseas challenge—it’s the stage where India’s next Test leadership blueprint will be revealed.
The world will be watching how the new skipper channels the wisdom of his predecessors and leads a team in transition towards sustained greatness.
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