Shubman Gill is all set to lead the Indian team against England in a five-match Test series away from home. This is his first captaincy stint and one that starts India's WTC 2025-27 campaign.
The Test series against India is a much-awaited one with the Men in Blue playing without the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami. While Rohit and Kohli announced their Test retirements, Shami is not fit for the series.
The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee has chosen a relatively young team, naming Shubman Gill as the captain of the side. There are several players who have earned their maiden call-ups. Karun Nair has earned a Test recall into the side as well.
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There have been debates about the non-selection of Sarfaraz Khan despite his consistent performances in domestic cricket and India A. Meanwhile, all eyes are on Shubman Gill in what will be his maiden Test series as India's captain.
Former England captain Graham Gooch in his interview with Times of India spoke about captaincy in general and the honour and the responsibility in brings with it. Gooch first spoke about the responsibility Gill needs to shoulder as the India Test captain.
"You're not just captain of the other 10 players, you're captain of your sport. So your responsibility as a role model and as an ambassador to set the tone for your country's cricket system, from professional cricketers down to cricketers who play zonal cricket in your country, and the youngsters, the boys and girls who aspire to play for India or for representative teams, your responsibility is to set the tone and be an example for all the cricketers in your country" Gooch said.
Further, he went onto say that despite Gill being the captain of the side, his main responsibility is to perform for the side when captaincy takes the backseat. The former England skipper added saying that if he performs it will reflect in his captaincy as well.
So it's more than just a captain in a team. I think that honour should inspire you as a player. It certainly has inspired me. I don't always subscribe to the view that it's more pressure. You've got to do it your own way and you've got to be yourself, not copy anyone. I think the most important thing for a captain is you've got to perform. Your main job in the team is to perform, with the bat in his case. So he has to do that. Captaincy is secondary to performing. And if you perform well yourself, that makes the captaincy easier.
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Shubman Gill's Numbers In Test Cricket
Shubman Gill so far has played 32 Test matches for India inching closer to 2000 runs in the format. He averages 35 in Test cricket having scored five centuries and seven fifties. He is expected to bat at three in the lineup.
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