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India's newly appointed Test captain, Shubman Gill revealed that he proactively sought the experience of recently retired Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to prepare for the upcoming series against England which is set to kick off from June 20. Gill, during India's pre-match press conference, admitted that he met both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma during the IPL 2025. Gill is poised to embark on his maiden assignment as captain in the longest format of the game, stepping into the role vacated by Rohit Sharma, who announced his retirement from Test cricket in May. Additionally, the 25-year-old is set to take up the crucial No. 4 batting position, following Virat Kohli's decision to take a break from Test cricket.
Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma told me about their experiences in England: Shubman Gill
During a press conference held on the eve of the first Test in Leeds, Gill shared that he had valuable discussions with the two senior players during the IPL to gain insights and get ready for the challenges of the England tour. Furthermore, Gill expressed his anticipation that the upcoming series would mirror the closely fought contest witnessed when both England and India clashed in India during 2024.
"Yes. I met both men during the IPL. They told me about their experiences in England and some of the challenges that we might face here. But having said that, the Test series that we played against England in India was one of the best I was part of. Even in that one, not a lot of the main players were available and how we went about the series is how this one is also going to be. The series scorecard was 4-1, but it didn't justify how tough the matches were against England. And if we replicate that, it will be key for us," said Gill.
Gill is set to take on a new role in the Indian batting lineup, occupying the prestigious number 4 position. This iconic spot has been previously held by legendary batsmen such as Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, adding to the significance of Gill's new responsibility. Furthermore, Gill disclosed that he had engaged in a conversation with Gautam Gambhir, a former Indian opener, specifically to discuss the nuances of batting at this crucial position. This indicates Gill's proactive approach to understanding and preparing for his new role within the team.
"Captaining the country is the biggest honour anyone can get. After Virat bhai retired, me and GG bhai discussed me batting at that number. Definitely the Test series, in my opinion, you don’t get many opportunities as a captain to come to England. Maybe two, or if you’re the best of your generation, maybe three. IPL happens every year," he added.
"The blueprint that we have received from our seniors in the past 5-10 years is that we can win anywhere. We will try to follow that blueprint with confidence. If the environment in the team is good and the players feel secure and confident and they know their roles in the team, we want to create that environment and this will make our test series and ICC World Test Championship cycle very successful," Gill concluded.
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