India’s new red-ball captain, Shubman Gill, has unequivocally stated his belief that clinching a Test series in cricketing bastions like England, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa dwarfs the achievement of an IPL title. The young skipper, who also leads the Gujarat Titans in the lucrative T20 league, articulated his strong preference during a recent press interaction.
Speaking ahead of India’s challenging Test series in England, the 25-year-old emphasised the unparalleled prestige associated with triumphing in overseas Test cricket. “Definitely the Test Series, in my opinion,” Gill affirmed when pressed on which accomplishment he would value more as a captain – a Test series win in England or an IPL trophy. He highlighted the rarity of such opportunities, noting that a captain might only get “maybe two, maybe three” chances to lead a Test side in England during their entire career, unlike the annual cycle of the IPL. “In my opinion, winning a Test Series in England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa is bigger,” he reiterated, underlining the significance of success in these formidable cricketing nations.
Gill’s young Indian squad, which is set to commence their English sojourn this Friday, will navigate the series without the seasoned presence of stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and R Ashwin. Far from being daunted by this, Gill sees an inherent advantage in this relative inexperience. “A lot of people talk about, you know, our side is not experienced, but there are also positives that we don’t really have any baggage coming to England, because not all of the players have really been to England,” he explained, suggesting that a fresh slate could prove beneficial for his team. He expressed confidence in drawing from the “blueprint” of success established by seniors over the past decade, aiming to replicate their winning mentality across all conditions.
Discussing his own batting position, Gill revealed that the decision to bat at No. 4 was a mutual understanding reached with head coach Gautam Gambhir after Virat Kohli’s retirement. Both he and Gambhir were clear on this strategic move. The captain also laid considerable stress on cultivating a “secure” environment for his players, believing it to be pivotal for peak performance and a successful Test series and World Test Championship cycle. This ethos extends to providing “longer ropes” to deserving players, coupled with transparent communication about their roles and expectations. He underscored the importance of backing players to express their natural game.
Prior to the tour, Gill shared that he had leveraged his interactions with both Kohli and Rohit during the IPL, gleaning valuable insights into the challenges of playing in England. He drew parallels with India’s home Test series against England in 2023-24, where despite the absence of several senior players, the team delivered a strong performance. The skipper also mentioned that a comparatively dry English summer has prompted the team to defer their final playing XI selection, awaiting a last look at the pitch conditions before making a definitive decision.
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