Shubman Gill, the newly appointed captain of the Indian Test team, has revealed that he feels no pressure or burden of expectations from head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar as he embarks on his leadership journey. The 25-year-old is set to lead India in the upcoming five-match Test series against England, succeeding Rohit Sharma, who retired from the longest format of the game in May 2025.
Gill's appointment marks a significant moment in Indian cricket, with the young batter becoming the 37th Test captain of the nation. Reflecting on his new role, Gill shared that he had heartfelt conversations with Gambhir and Agarkar, where they conveyed their desire for him to express himself freely as a leader. "The expectations I've had this conversation numerous times with Gauti bhai and Ajit bhai. They just want me to be able to express myself as a leader. That's what they've told me 'there are no expectations'. They are not expecting me to do something I am not capable of," Gill stated in an interview with Dinesh Karthik on Sky Sports.
While Gambhir and Agarkar have refrained from imposing any specific expectations, Gill acknowledges the internal expectations he holds for himself as both a captain and a player. He aims to foster a secure and happy environment within the team, recognizing the challenges posed by intense competition and frequent squad changes. "Apart from all the silverware and trophies aside, I would ideally like to build a culture where everyone is very secure and happy. I know it can be a very difficult environment, especially with all the competition or the number of matches that we play and different squads coming in, but if I am able to do that, that would be my goal," Gill added.
Gill's journey to Test captaincy is a story of rapid ascent, marked by stellar performances in domestic and international cricket. He was named captain of India A for their tour of New Zealand in December 2019 and made his Test debut in December 2020. Gill has also captained India Blue in the Duleep Trophy and India C in the Deodhar Trophy, showcasing his leadership potential early on.
As Gill prepares to lead India in the challenging conditions of England, he carries the hopes of a nation eager to see a new era of Test cricket under his captaincy. While he acknowledges the absence of recently retired veterans such as Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin, he is confident that the team's promising youngsters are ready to rise to the occasion. Kuldeep Yadav has expressed his excitement to play under Gill's leadership.
With no external pressure weighing him down, Shubman Gill is determined to lead with his own style, blending the lessons learned from his predecessors with his unique approach. His focus on creating a secure and happy team environment, combined with his personal expectations for success, sets the stage for an intriguing chapter in Indian Test cricket.
