The Headline
Gill's captaincy, No. 4 role, and bowling focus
Key Facts
- India won the 4-1 Test series against England in early 2024 with a strong five-man bowling attack, which was a key factor in their success.1
- Shubman Gill was appointed Indias Test captain and confirmed to bat at No. 4, filling the position vacated by Virat Kohli after his retirement.3
- Gill emphasized the necessity of taking 20 wickets to win Test matches and endorsed a bold team balance that might include only six batters.
3
- Gill expressed readiness to play with four tailenders to strengthen the bowling attack and stressed the importance of aggressive bowling to win Tests.
- Gill shared his leadership philosophy focusing on creating a secure environment where players feel validated and perform their best.
- Gill is focused on his batting form as key to leading well and aims to uphold the legacy of the No. 4 position following legends like Kohli and Tendulkar.
Gill said in response to the question. "You can't win a Test match without taking 20 wickets, no matter how many runs you have scored. So, that has been one of our key discussion points, you know, how we're gonna take 20 wickets.
ESPNcricinfo
Speaking on the team’s batting order in the wake of Virat Kohli’s retirement, Gill said the No. 3 position remains undecided. “Will see the pitch once more and decide the No. 3. After Virat bhai retired, GG (Gautam Gambhir) and I had a chat and we decided I will go at 4,” he revealed, confirming a key middle-order adjustment.
Business-standard
1
The legendary Sachin Tendulkar has also stated that being an Indian skipper is a high-pressure job and opinions will fly thick and fast. But he expects Gill to have a tunnel vision.
Timesnownews
He has also been made aware numerous times on numerous platforms that India have won only three series in England since 1932, and that their last triumph in these shores came under Rahul Dravid in 2007.
Thehindu
The 25-year-old takes over the No. 4 position, following the , who occupied that slot for the majority of his Test career for India.
Icc-cricket
Rishabh Pant confirmed his batting position for the upcoming Test series. Shubman Gill will bat at number four, filling Virat Kohli's spot.
M
On the eve of his first Test as India captain, Shubman Gill immersed himself in a marathon net session at Headingley, showcasing sharp focus on his batting. Now slotted at No. 4, Gill aims to assert himself as a dependable run-scorer in the post-Kohli era. While captaincy talk dominates, Gill remains clear: batting form is key to leading well.
Timesofindia
Shubman Gill said that India were open to sacrificing batting depth in favour of a more potent bowling attack, even if it meant going in with just six batters and four tailenders. The new captain's assertion on the eve of the Test series in England is a notable shift from India's most recent overseas series in Australia, where they opted for batting insurance by fielding Ravindra Jadeja alongside two other all-rounders, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Cricbuzz
1
Key Stats at a Glance
India's Test series win against England
4-1
Wickets needed to win a Test match
20 wickets
Shubman Gill's age
25-year-old
