It Will Be Baptism By Fire For Shubman Gill In England

Shubman Gill will have to endure the baptism by fire ordeal on his first stint as captain of the Indian team during the five-Test series in England. The first Test starts at Headingley (Leeds) from June 20, and this will be followed by severe examinations at Birmingham (Edgbaston), Lord’s (London), Old Trafford (Manchester) and The Oval (London), the series ending in the first week of August. The selection committee with Ajit Agarkar in Chair has placed faith on the 25-year-old Punjabi — with 32 Tests and 1893 runs under his belt — to deliver the goods in a country where weather conditions change by the day, and even the hour, and the local brand of Dukes ball triggers confusion in the batsmen from the Asian region. Gill has been earmarked as captain for the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship cycle, and points accrued from the England tour will throw first hints as to whether India will have a chance to finish among the two to play the final in June 2027. Gill’s first aim will be to get runs, which will boost his confidence as he learns the captaincy trade in the tough English summer. In the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma he will be expected to lead by example and show the way. The elegant right-hander has so far scored 874 as an opener at 32.37 and 1019 at No 3 at 37.73 in 32 Tests. In England, he is likely to bat at No 3. Gill follows 18 previous India captains (in England) who have led in 69 Tests and won 9 and so Gill has his task cut out!