Shubman Gill will begin his Test captaincy stint with the tour of England.
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan feels that Shubman Gill’s appointment as India’s Test captain is a “bold move" following the retirements of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the longest format.
Gill will begin his leadership stint with the five-Test tour of England, starting June 20 in Leeds. He will have wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant as his deputy.
While Vaughan mentioned that Gill faces a challenge to prove himself in overseas conditions, he expressed confidence in the Punjab lad’s temperament for crucial moments.
“Shubman Gill is officially the new face of Indian Test cricket, stepping up as captain for the England series. It’s a bold move, trusting a young leader with a new-look team after the retirements of giants like Rohit and Kohli. Gill has a lot to prove, especially away from home, but he has shown he has the temperament for big moments," said Vaughan, who is part of Sony Sports Network’s expert commentary team for the series.
He further stated that the England tour could mark the beginning of a special era for India’s next generation.
“With Rishabh Pant as his deputy and a squad eager to make their mark, this England tour could be the start of something special for India’s next generation. Don’t be surprised if these youngsters rise to the occasion," Vaughan added.
Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar endorsed Vaughan’s views, saying the world is eager to witness how the young Indian team performs in the upcoming series.
“There’s always something special about an Indian team touring England, and this time, with a new young captain and terrific young players, the excitement and anticipation among fans are at an all-time high. Everyone is eager to see how these young cricketers will rise to the occasion and carve out their legacy," said Gavaskar, who will join Vaughan in the commentary box for the tour.
After the series opener at Headingley, both teams will move to Lord’s (June 28) for the second Test, followed by matches at Trent Bridge (July 6), The Oval (July 14), and Old Trafford (July 24).
India Squad for England Tests: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc & wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav
(With IANS Inputs)