Sanjay Manjrekar has made a significant statement regarding Shubman Gill's leadership role as India embarks on a new chapter in Test cricket. With India's Test team set to face England in a five-match series beginning on June 20, 2025, all eyes are on Gill, who is stepping into the captain's role amidst considerable changes within the team.
Manjrekar believes that the young captain will not feel burdened by pressure. He articulated that Gill's situation is unique, as he is taking the reins at a time when several senior players are no longer in the mix. According to Manjrekar, the absence of these big names, coupled with the fact that Jasprit Bumrah was not chosen as captain, means that Gill has essentially been entrusted with a responsibility that he couldn't refuse. This circumstance, in Manjrekar's view, alleviates the pressure on Gill. He stated that because the selectors have made such a significant decision by appointing Gill, they are likely to fully support him.
Drawing parallels with the past, Manjrekar compared Gill's appointment to Mohammed Azharuddin's unexpected captaincy in 1989. He suggested that Gill might experience a similar sense of freedom, approaching the role with a "nothing to lose" mentality. Manjrekar highlighted that this situation resembles the Indian team's tour to New Zealand in the 90s, where Azharuddin, a young cricketer, was surprisingly made the captain, fostering a sense of uninhibited play.
Furthermore, Manjrekar expressed his confidence in the dynamic between Gill and India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir. He posited that Gambhir would relish working with a young captain, drawing a comparison to a T20I setup where Gambhir might collaborate with Suryakumar Yadav. Manjrekar anticipates a strong relationship between the captain and coach, which will be more better compared to having Rohit Sharma.
In addition to his views on Gill's captaincy, Manjrekar has also commented on Gill's batting abilities, particularly his potential to fill the void left by Virat Kohli at the No. 4 position. Manjrekar believes Gill is ideally suited for this role due to his versatility in batting positions.
Meanwhile, Gill himself has addressed the topic of pressure. Ahead of the Test series against England, Gill downplayed any added pressure due to the absence of experienced players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. He acknowledged that pressure is inherent in every match and series but emphasized that the team possesses ample experience and is accustomed to handling such situations. Gill also noted the difficulty of filling the shoes of Rohit and Virat but expressed confidence in the team's batting and bowling combination.
Gill has also spoken about the pressure associated with big matches, recalling the 2023 ODI World Cup final. He admitted that the team that handles pressure effectively in such high-stakes games has a better chance of winning. Gill referenced successful teams from the past, such as the West Indies and Australia, who excelled in knockout games by keeping the occasion separate from the game.
