Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill in the Test Format
Their exit marked the end of an era for Indian cricket. With both legends gone, the responsibility of leading the Test team has now fallen on Shubman Gill. Taking charge without the guidance of two experienced giants won’t be easy, but Gill has shown maturity and confidence. Let’s take a look at how he plans to embrace this big challenge and his views on the road ahead.
Being the new captain of the Indian Test team is both a dream and a huge responsibility for 25-year-old Shubman Gill. In his first interview with BCCI.tv after being named captain, Gill spoke about the emotions of getting this opportunity and his plans to take the team forward. India will begin their next World Test Championship cycle with a tough five-match series in England, and Gill is ready for the challenge. He admitted feeling a bit overwhelmed at first, saying that every young cricketer dreams of playing for India and playing Test cricket for a long time. He said:
It is definitely a bit overwhelming. As a young kid when anyone starts playing cricket, they want to play for India and not just play for India, play Test cricket for a very long time. To be able to get this opportunity is a great honour and it’s a big responsibility. I’m looking forward to this exciting opportunity and the upcoming series against England is going to be an exciting one. I believe in leading by example, not just by performance, but I think off the field by discipline and hard work. As a captain, a leader should be able to know when to step in and also when to give space to the players. A good leader should always be able to know what makes his players be able to have the best performance or the best outcome.
For Gill, becoming captain at such a young age is an honour he deeply values, adding that the upcoming England series will be an exciting test for the team. Gill shared his leadership style, highlighting that a good captain doesn’t just lead with runs but also by setting an example through discipline, work ethic, and understanding his teammates. He believes it’s important to know when to step in and when to give space, aiming to understand players on a personal level so he can help them perform at their best. Being the captain, leadership goes beyond tactics as it’s about building trust and strong bonds in the team. When asked about managing captaincy while focusing on his batting, Gill explained that keeping a clear mind is essential. He further added:
That is always exciting to people to have those conversations with the players, to be able to know them on a deeper level than just cricket, you know, because then you’re really able to know what can get the best out of them. One of the things that I learned was if I’m a batsman, I’m batting out there, I want to be able to make decisions as a batsman and not as a captain. If I start thinking about other things, it just puts more pressure on me, which is not required, you know, because when you’re batting out there, you want to be able to take those risks.
He mentioned that when he’s out in the middle, he prefers thinking like a batter and not like a captain, as that gives him freedom and confidence. If he allows captaincy thoughts to cloud his mind, it puts unnecessary pressure on him. Gill wants to play naturally and make bold decisions just like he would as a regular batter. Gill’s rise to captaincy comes during an excellent run of form. In IPL 2025, he has not only led Gujarat Titans to the top of the points table but also emerged as the second-highest run-scorer, just behind Sai Sudharsan, who has also earned his first Test call-up. Gill’s success in both roles, batter and leader and has shown that he is ready for bigger responsibilities.
After the retirement of the two modern-day greats, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, from Test cricket in May 2025, a new chapter began for the Indian team. While fans felt the emotional weight of losing two of the finest players the game has seen, young Shubman Gill stepped up as the new Test captain. In his early reactions, Gill paid heartfelt tribute to his predecessors, crediting both Rohit and Virat for teaching him key lessons about leadership, mindset, and preparation, especially in tough overseas conditions.
Gill pointed out how both leaders had contrasting but equally effective leadership styles. He described Virat Kohli as someone who led with fierce aggression, intensity, and an unshakable hunger to win. Kohli’s passion was visible every time he walked on the field. In contrast, Rohit Sharma brought a calming presence to the dressing room. According to Gill, Rohit’s style was more relaxed and tactical. He was extremely communicative and clear with his plans, always making sure every player knew their role. He said:
When I was a kid, I was always inspired by the greats and the legends of Indian cricket and been very fortunate to be able to play with so many of them. Be it Virat bhai or Rohit bhai, both were very contrasting in terms of the style, but it was very inspiring to see both of them working towards a common goal. You want to be able to win as a captain, and your styles can be different, but they both were very different, but also similar in their own sense.
Despite their different approaches, Gill found inspiration in the way both captains worked toward the same goal: winning matches for India. This blend of aggression and calm, passion and planning has deeply shaped Gill’s view of captaincy. He also highlighted how legends like Kohli, Rohit, and Ravichandran Ashwin have provided a roadmap for success away from home. Winning Test matches overseas is one of the toughest challenges in international cricket, but Gill believes that these senior players have created a winning culture that the next generation can now build on. He further added:
Virat bhai was always very aggressive, always wanting to lead from the front with hunger and passion. Rohit Bhai was someone who was very calm and technically, always very present, and he’s very communicative to the players, what he wants from the players. And so these are the qualities that I learned from them. Guys like Virat bhai, Rohit bhai and Ashwin bhai, they have given us a blueprint on how to tour away from home and win matches and series. It’s one thing to be able to deliver and execute, but because we have that blueprint, we know how to tour away from home and win matches and series.
Shubman emphasised that having a way to win in foreign conditions is crucial. It’s not just about individual talent, but about knowing how to prepare, adapt, and execute a plan as a unit. That legacy, Gill said, is what makes him confident in taking the reins of a young Indian team in transition. With his calm nature, keen cricketing brain, and valuable guidance from those who came before him, Shubman Gill seems ready to carry the baton forward. As India prepares for a crucial Test series in England, fans will be watching closely to see how well the lessons from Ro-Ko translate into Gill’s leadership on the field.
With the start of the Test series against England just around the corner, Indian captain Shubman Gill is ready to face the challenge head-on. Leading India in a five-match Test series for the first time, Gill is fully aware of the mental and physical demands that come with red-ball cricket in England. He is not new to England’s conditions, but this time he’ll be taking charge as the leader of a young side aiming for India’s first Test series win there since 2009. 2007. Gill carries fond memories from his last battle against England. In the home series earlier, he was India’s second-highest run-scorer, with 452 runs in nine innings. He said:
My favourite series that I played was also a five-Test match series when England came to India. There’s a different essence when you are playing a five-Test series. It’s long, it’s mentally and physically very challenging. That’s the most exciting thing that I find about red-ball cricket. It’s not going to be easy, but I think we’re ready for any challenge.
That experience, he says, was one of his favourites in Test cricket. For him, a five-Test series brings something special, a true test of adaptability, and consistency over time and he admitted it won’t be easy in England, where conditions change quickly and demand strong technique and patience. However, Gill believes the team is prepared for any challenge that comes their way. With confidence from past performances and lessons learned from veterans like Kohli and Rohit, the young captain is all set to guide India through one of their toughest overseas assignments.