The upcoming five-match Test series against England sees Shubman Gill leading the Indian team, with the first Test scheduled to begin on June 20 at Headingley. This series presents a formidable test for the youthful Indian side, who will play without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. During a pre-series press conference, Shubman Gill shared his thoughts on the upcoming challenge.
“Regardless of how many runs you score, you can’t win a Test match without taking 20 wickets. We’ve focused on this as a key area, discussing strategies to take 20 wickets. We might consider fielding a team with specialized batsmen, possibly including a bowling all-rounder and a strong pace attack,” Gill revealed.
“My intention is to bat as a batsman, avoiding the burden of thinking I’m the captain because it can be overwhelming,” Gill said. “My goal is to focus on dominating the opposition and striving to be the best batsman in the series.”
“I always feel the opposition will try to challenge me,” Gill continued. “I believe they will target key players, and I don’t expect anything different in this series.”
Gill also emphasized the significance of Test series, stating, “Captains get limited opportunities to play in England – maybe two or three times in a career. The IPL comes annually. Winning a Test series in places like England, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa is a more significant accomplishment.”