Shubman Gill is all set to begin his Test captaincy stint with the tour of England, slated to get underway on June 20 at Headingley. The five-match series will also mark the start of India’s WTC cycle.

The 25-year-old was named India’s new Test skipper following the retirement of Rohit Sharma last month.

Ahead of the marquee series, legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev extended his best wishes to the young captain and the Indian team.

“We feel very proud and wish them all the luck. I hope they come back victorious," said Kapil during an event in New Delhi on Wednesday (June 18).

Recently, Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah revealed that he was the first-choice of the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee for the Test captaincy, but he had turned down the offer because of workload management.

Sharing his two cents on the same, Kapil commented, “This is his personal view, but to me, the team is more important."

Apart from Rohit, star batter Virat Kohli retired from the Test format last month. Additionally, India will not have the services of Ravichandran Ashwin, who called time on his international career midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/2.

With Gill due to make his Test captaincy debut, Kapil advised the youngster not to take any pressure and just express himself.

“There are no expectations. Just go, play, express yourself. That’s more important," the 1983 World Cup-winning captain said.

England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) decision to retire Pataudi Trophy and rename the upcoming England versus India Test series as ‘Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy’ has drawn mixed reactions.

Since 2007, India’s Test tours of England were played for the Pataudi Trophy, which was named in the honour of Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi and his son, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi.

Likewise, the India versus England Test series played in India was called the Anthony de Mello Trophy, named after a former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Reacting to the development, Kapil Dev said it feels strange that the India-England Test series has been renamed from Pataudi Trophy to Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

“It feels a little strange… like, does this also happen? But that’s okay, everything works in cricket. At the end of the day, there is no difference. Cricket is cricket. The cricket on the field should be the same," he remarked.