Shubman Gill is set to lead the Indian team in the five-match Test series against England, with the first Test commencing on June 20 at Headingley. This will be a challenging assignment for the young squad, as they will be competing without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Before the series opener, Shubman Gill discussed his approach in a press conference.
“You can’t win a Test match without taking 20 wickets, regardless of the runs scored. So, that has been a key discussion point for us: how we’re going to take 20 wickets. There might be a scenario where we could opt for pure batsmen, potentially including a bowling all-rounder and three or four premier fast bowlers or specialist bowlers,” Gill stated.
“Honestly, when I go out to bat, I just want to play as a batsman; I don’t want to overthink my role as captain because I think that can add undue pressure,” Gill explained. “I want to play as a batsman, aiming to dominate the opposition and be the best batsman in the series. That’s my focus.”
Gill added, “I always feel the opposition is trying to challenge me when I’m playing, and I think all the key players face the same challenge. So, I don’t anticipate it being any different.”
Regarding the importance of the series, Gill said, “In my opinion, a Test series is very significant, as a captain doesn’t get many opportunities to play in England – perhaps two, or maybe three if you’re among the best of your generation. The IPL happens every year. So, in my view, winning a Test series in England, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa is a bigger achievement.”