With Shubman Gill stepping into the role of captain in India’s transitioning Test side, former captain Sourav Ganguly has weighed in on the youngster’s new responsibility and the challenges he may face in English conditions.
India is set to take on England in a five-match Test series starting June 20, with games scheduled between June 20 and August 4 at Headingley (Leeds), Edgbaston (Birmingham), Lord’s and The Oval (London), and Old Trafford (Manchester).
Ganguly, who was known for grooming young players during his time as captain, showed faith in Gill’s potential but also highlighted the importance of improving his technique, especially in the Test format.
“Wishing him all the best. I am sure he can work on his Test match batting. He is a top-order batsman,” Ganguly told Revsportz.
The present Indian Test squad marks a clear transition from the trio of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ajinkya Rahane to a fresh group of players that includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, and Karun Nair, along with Shubman Gill. Ganguly pointed out this shift in Indian cricket, emphasizing the remarkable nature of such changes over time.
“There is no Kohli, no Rohit Sharma, no Ajinkya Rahane… it’s absolutely amazing – how things change over a period is unbelievable.”
Now one of the most experienced players in the squad, Gill carries the dual responsibility of leading the side and anchoring the batting lineup in tough English conditions. The swing and seam movement on English pitches, especially in the early stages of an innings, will be a tough challenge. Ganguly underlined the need for Gill to adjust his game to meet these demands.
“These are not conditions where you just hit through the line. It’s going to seam, swing, the new ball will be different. There can be a time when India is 10 for 2, and he has to come and play the new ball, so the application will be different,” he said.
Ganguly thinks Gill need to work on his technique, especially when playing the moving ball outside the off stump, “
“Shubman needs to score a bit more runs in these conditions when it’s seaming and swinging. It is going to be a bit difficult upfront with the new ball. Batting at 100 for 2 and 20 for 4 are two different things, so he has to get the defence right, learn how to leave deliveries outside the off stump,” he added.
He also highlighted the importance of adopting a front-foot technique in English conditions, noting that unlike in Australia or South Africa, where back-foot play can be effective, success in England often depends on playing forward.
“England is a place where you need to be on the front foot quite a bit. It’s not Australia or South Africa, where you can hang on the back foot and still play,” he noted.
“In New Zealand and England, it’s going to swing and seam, so you’ve got to be on the front foot and have a good defence. You’ve got to fight here, where first hour, post lunch, post tea would be different. So, you can’t be 50-4 in the first two hours. You’ve got to be 50-1, then you are in a position to win the Test match, and I think that’s where India needs to be,” he said.
