During a recent press conference at the headquarters of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, newly appointed Test captain Shubman Gill discussed a variety of themes related to the upcoming Test series in England.
Gill admitted that he was initially overwhelmed after learning of his batting position and captaincy designation in the Test squad. He also discussed how he plans to guide the players with him at the helm.
“(About his batting position) The first time I found out, I was completely overwhelmed. But, having said that, it is a significant duty. I look forward to this task. We have some time to decide on batting positions before we play an intra-squad match and then a 10-day camp,” Gill remarked during the press conference.
“(On his captaincy style), I don’t have a specific style in mind. You play and keep improving these things. I prefer to interact with the players. I would strive to make them feel more at ease about their own skills and weaknesses. The players must feel safe; only then will they perform effectively,” he stressed.
If we are proactive in our plans, it will put them under pressure: Shubman Gill
The top-order hitter avoided overemphasis on stats. He also commented on the team’s mental state following the experience of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
“(Regarding his stats in England), I definitely want to lead by example. However, I do not rely on averages or stats. (Based on his Bazball numbers) They play in a certain style. It’s exciting for us. It is a significant issue; if we are proactive with our plans, it will put them under strain. (On Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma‘s retirements) Every tour brings pressure. It is difficult to fill the void left by the two major actors after so many years of service. But that is not an additional weight. “We’re all used to it by now,” Gill explained.
On June 20, Team India will face England in a highly anticipated series. It will be interesting to see how Gill leads the team in difficult situations. In England, he is relatively unknown. In six innings, he has only scored 88 runs and averaged 14.66.
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