Subhayan Chakraborty in Leeds
Shubman Gill, on the eve of the first Test between India and England at Headingley, reckoned that winning a Test series in England, Australia, South Africa or New Zealand (SENA countries) is a much bigger achievement than winning an IPL trophy, while also revealing his vision for Team India in the longest format of the game.
With Gill starting his tenure as India Test captain, he would be looking to end the 18-year drought on English soil. India haven’t won a Test series in England since 2007.
“Definitely the Test Series, in my opinion (winning). You don’t get many opportunities as a captain to be able to come to England. Maybe two, if you are the best of your generation, maybe three,” Gill said at the pre-match press conference. “IPL comes every year and you have a crack at it every year. So, in my opinion, winning a Test Series in England, Australia, New Zealand (and) South Africa is bigger.”
Gill will be taking the No. 4 mantle from Virat Kohli. He revealed a conversation with head coach Gautam Gambhir that nailed the No. 4 spot for him.
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🚨 Shubman Gill PC: “This is the biggest honour a player can get”
Batting at No. 4, winning test in SENA countries, lower order batting contributions.
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“After Virat bhai retired, me and GG (Gautam Gambhir) bhai had a discussion about it, and we were both clear that he wanted me to bat at No. 4 and I was also clear that I wanted to bat at that number,” said the 25-year-old.
When asked about leading the side, his camaraderie with vice-captain Rishabh Pant and his vision for Test cricket, Gill said: “It is the biggest honour that a player can get, captaining your country, especially in Test cricket is something you know that not many people have the opportunity to have and I think I’m very excited.”
He elaborated: “Rishabh and I have played a lot of cricket together and our mindset and our thinking is sort of aligned and our vision is sort of aligned. We want to create an environment in the team where everyone feels secure. I personally believe that everyone’s best performances come when they are feeling the most secure and they are feeling validated and secure and that’s the kind of environment that we want to create in the team.”
Gill also spoke about the winning mentality that he has inherited from his predecessors. “The blueprint that we have got from our seniors in the last 5-10 years, that we can go anywhere and win, and we will try to follow that confidence and that blueprint,” he said. “And as I said, if your environment in the team is very good, the players feel very secure and confident, they know what their own rule is. So we want to create that environment in the team. And if we are successful in creating that environment, then I think our Test series and this WTC cycle is going to be very successful.”