Former England white-ball captain Eoin Morgan has voiced his support for Shubman Gill’s appointment as India’s new Test captain, describing the young batter as a natural leader. Having shared the dressing room with Gill during their time together at Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, Morgan recalled how the youngster consistently took on responsibility and brought a thoughtful presence to the team environment.
Speaking to Sky Sports after India’s squad announcement, Morgan recalled his experience captaining Gill in the IPL, describing the batter as someone who thrives under responsibility and isn’t afraid to challenge methods for the greater good of the team. He added that Gill’s leadership instincts stood out even then, making him confident that the young Indian will grow into the role despite the high expectations that come with it.
India squad announcement: Highlights
“This is still a very, very strong squad. I think the captaincy decision is the right one. I played alongside Shubman Gill at the Kolkata Knight Riders for two seasons in the IPL a few years ago. He’s a natural leader. He takes on responsibility within a group, he doesn’t mind questioning methodology within the camp, but ultimately, the collective goal is what’s most important to him.”
Following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from Test cricket in May, the selectors made a decisive move by naming Gill the 37th Test captain of India — a clear nod to the future. The decision follows a period of reflection for Indian cricket, especially after their recent defeats to New Zealand at home and in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. With an eye on rebuilding, the BCCI appears to have fully embraced a youth-driven strategy, beginning with Gill’s elevation.
Gill, who will lead India into a demanding five-match Test series against England starting 20 June, may be relatively new to red-ball leadership but brings with him experience from shorter formats. He has previously led India in a T20I series against Zimbabwe and captained Gujarat Titans in the IPL. With nearly 1,900 runs from 32 Tests under his belt — including five centuries — Gill’s credentials with the bat are already established. Now, he faces the challenge of proving himself as a leader on the biggest stage of all.
India squad for England Test series
India’s squad for England tour: Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (wk) (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.
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