New Delhi: As India prepares to begin a new era in Test cricket under captain Shubman Gill, the team is set to face England starting June 20 at Headingley. This series marks India’s first major assignment following the retirements of iconic players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, with 25-year-old Gill stepping up as the new captain.
Speaking ahead of the tour, Gill expressed both excitement and readiness for the responsibility. “When I came to know there was an opportunity to captain the Test team, it was overwhelming. Having said that, it’s a big responsibility. Looking forward to this great challenge that will be presented to us,” he said.
With Kohli’s retirement, questions have swirled around India’s batting lineup. Gill indicated that final decisions on the batting order will be made after the team’s intra-squad match beginning June 13 and the subsequent 10-day training camp in London. “We haven’t really decided on the… we still have some time. We will be playing the intra-squad match and having the camp, so I think we can decide on the batting order once we get there,” he explained.
Meanwhile, uncertainty also surrounds the availability of key fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah for the five-Test series. Though no decision has been made regarding which matches Bumrah will play, captain Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir remain confident in the squad’s depth to manage his potential absence.
“We haven’t taken that call, which three games he is going to play. We will have a discussion with him, and it will depend on the progress of the series and where it is heading. That is something I’m sure he is very well aware of, and that is important,” Gambhir said.
As India embarks on this transition, all eyes will be on how the young leadership and evolving squad adapt to the challenges of the England tour.
