Gill takes guard – but can India batter lead from the front as captain?

The Indian cricket board has named Shubman Gill as India’s new captain for the upcoming five-test series against England in June, ending speculation about Rohit Sharma’s sudden retirement from Test cricket almost three weeks after his abrupt abrupt retirement.

After Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, and Ravi Shastri, Gill becomes India’s 37th Test captain at age 25. He is also one of its youngest-captained counterparts.

His appointment marks an era of change for Indian cricket. Without the likes of batting legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, spin legend R Ashwin, who retired six months ago, and paceman Mohammed Shami, who was hampered by health concerns, he leads the team.

Although the team has young batting talent, Kohli and Sharma will miss their experience. The bowling attack still has some sour undertones despite Jaspreet Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, and Mohammad Siraj.

Gill’s situation is further complicated by the fact that India haven’t won an English Test series since 2007.

Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector, Gautam Gambhir, and other contenders had lengthy discussions on the matter during backchannel discussions.

Gill, a prodigy from Punjab state, has long carried the weight of expectation with class.

In the Punjab Inter-District ML Markan Trophy, he broke into the limelight in 2014, not yet 15 years old, hammering 351 with Nirmal Singh in a world record-setting 587 debut. His family’s brave move from Chak Kherewala, a border village, to Mohali was supported by the knock, which sought better training and exposure for the young talent.

Gill really made his first big impact when he stayed in the junior ranks and was constantly pushed into the under-19 ranks.

He served as vice-captain of the Indian team that won the 2017-18 U-19 World Cup, highlighted by his strong, unbeaten 102 in the semi-final against arch rivals Pakistan. Gill scored a smart 31 in the final between India and Australia.

All eyes were then on the U-19 captain, Prithvi Shaw, whose athletic prowess in Mumbai and Tendulkar drew comparisons. His height was unpredictable: a century in the Tests and another soon after. However, his career was already shattered by 2020.

Gill, who was temporarily sidelined, immediately made his Ranji Trophy debut with a century, followed by a century. He improved both his batting and game awareness under Yuvraj Singh’s guidance.

Selectors were pushed to choose Gill for Shaw’s replacement due to strong runs. He made his Test debut in Melbourne in December 2020 as part of India’s unforgettable comeback series victory.

Gill is regarded as a promising young talent thanks to his technical precision and elegant stroke play, especially in front of the wicket. Soon after his family gave him the nickname “Prince,” the name quickly came to be his preferred method of cricket. He is widely anticipated to succeed Virat Kohli as the top batsman of the next generation, and he is being hailed as the “Next Big Thing.”

Less than five years after making his Test debut, Gill takes over as captain at a crucial time in his career.

He now faces a tough test against England’s Bazball style of play in difficult circumstances while having the necessary international experience to raise his batting from good to great. His status as a top Test player would greatly improve if he were to win.

Gill likely faces more difficult challenges as captain, though.

Following two finals appearances and a disappointing early exit in the last one, India’s new World Test Championship cycle was officially kicked off with the England series. India has lost back-to-back Test series to New Zealand and Australia, which has been disappointing.

Gill will have to take the bat and captain in charge of a new-look team whose dressing room and dynamics he will have to understand and perhaps reshape to help India get out of the current rut.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar stated that “Gill is a young man we are investing in for not just one series but for the next five-six years to advance Indian cricket.”