'I was overwhelmed': Gill on becoming India's new test captain
Indian cricket test team captain Shubman Gill, looks on as head coach Gautam Gambhir address a pre-departure press conference ahead of India tour to England at the Board of Control for Cricket headquarters in Mumbai, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Indian cricket test team captain Shubman Gill address a pre-departure press conference ahead of India tour to England at the Board of Control for Cricket headquarters in Mumbai, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Indian cricket test team captain Shubman Gill , left , and head coach Gautam Gambhir poses for picture after addressing a pre-departure press conference ahead of India tour to England at the Board of Control for Cricket headquarters in Mumbai, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Indian cricket test team captain Shubman Gill , left , and head coach Gautam Gambhir poses for picture after addressing a pre-departure press conference ahead of India tour to England at the Board of Control for Cricket headquarters in Mumbai, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Indian cricket test team captain Shubman Gill, looks on as head coach Gautam Gambhir address a pre-departure press conference ahead of India tour to England at the Board of Control for Cricket headquarters in Mumbai, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Indian cricket test team captain Shubman Gill address a pre-departure press conference ahead of India tour to England at the Board of Control for Cricket headquarters in Mumbai, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Indian cricket test team captain Shubman Gill , left , and head coach Gautam Gambhir poses for picture after addressing a pre-departure press conference ahead of India tour to England at the Board of Control for Cricket headquarters in Mumbai, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Shubman Gill admitted he was surprised and excited when he was named as India's new test captain.
Gill was appointed last month following the test retirements of the last two captains, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Advertisement
He met the media in Mumbai on Thursday before India leaves for the five-test series against England starting on June 20 in Leeds.
"I was overwhelmed to learn that I had been presented with the opportunity to lead India,' Gill said. "It is a big responsibility and I am looking forward to a great challenge in England.'
Sharma and Kohli were already established cricket greats when they became captains, but Gill, while aggressive, has yet to become a consistent, elite batter marked by match-winning performances. From 32 tests, he's scored 1,893 runs and five centuries at an average of 35.
He wants to lead by example and get on the same wavelength as his teammates.
Advertisement
'As captain, you want to win every match, but when I am out there as a batter, my focus is only on scoring as many runs as possible for the benefit of my team,' he said. "Having said that, averages and numbers are not something I look at, but I do want to lead with my performances with the bat.
'There isn't a particular style (of captaincy) that I want to follow. It comes on through experience and the more you play, your personal style then comes through to people. I like good communication with my players. It makes them feel secure and gives them comfort as per their strengths or weaknesses. As captain, I would like to have that bond with my players, because secure players will give you a 100%.'
Star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah led India twice in Australia last winter in Sharma's absence and likely would have been named captain ahead of Gill, but his back issues will limit his appearances against England. The selectors also hope Gill, at 25, will have a long and fruitful reign.
Bumrah won't feature in all five tests owing to fitness and workload issues.
Advertisement
'We haven't decided which tests Bumrah will or won't play,' India coach Gautam Gambhir said. 'It will depend on his fitness, workload and also the status of the series. Like I said ahead of the Champions Trophy, it is an opportunity for someone else to put their hand up. We have enough bowling quality in the squad, and our attack's composition will be decided based on both ground and overhead conditions.'
'We are used to pressure'
No Kohli, Sharma or Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired last summer, plus Bumrah unavailable for all five tests. Gill and Gambhir played down concerns about their chances.
'It is not easy to fill their shoes, but it doesn't put any additional pressure on us,' Gill said. 'That pressure to win is there in every series and we are used to it. It depends on how we adapt to play and win in such pressure conditions.
Advertisement
'We have a good batting and bowling combination. It is a good mix of experience and youth in our squad."
Gambhir added, 'Yes, it is a clean slate. But such things don't matter. When you go on a big tour, everyone is excited to perform and that leaves you in a good mental space. We have quality players in our test squad, who are willing to express themselves and do something special."
Gill has played one test in England. Amongst India's batters, only Lokesh Rahul and Rishabh Pant have previously toured there.
A young squad faces a daunting task against an experienced England side led by star allrounder Ben Stokes. Even with Kohli, Sharma and Ravichandran, India hasn't won a test series in England since 2007. It lost 4-0 in 2011, then 3-1 in 2014 and 4-1 in 2018. It led 2-1 in 2021 but the fifth test was postponed until 2022 owing to the pandemic. That delayed series ended 2-2.
Advertisement
'England plays a certain (attacking) way, which we saw when they came to India last (in 2024),' Gill said. 'It presents a great challenge. So we have to be proactive with our thinking and our execution as well.'
Tragedy in Bengaluru
Gambhir was asked about the tragedy in Bengaluru on Wednesday night when 11 fans died in a stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium while trying to join the celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru's maiden Indian Premier League title.
'I was never a believer that we need to have roadshows,' Gambhir said. "Even when I was playing, I had the same statement – when we won the 2007 T20 World Cup, I was of the opinion that we shouldn't have roadshows. (The) life of people is far more important.
Advertisement
'If at all there is need for a celebration, it can be held in a closed-door environment or inside a stadium. It is very tragic what happened yesterday and my heart goes out to those who have lost their loved ones. Hopefully in future, nothing like this happens because we are responsible citizens and we should take care of all this.'
___
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
Red Sox 3B Alex Bregman starts running program, still far from returning from quad strain
Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Saturday that Alex Bregman felt good after starting a running program at Fenway Park but is still far from returning from a strained right quadriceps. 'The progression is going well," Cora said before the Red Sox continued their series against the New York Yankees. "Let's see how he feels tomorrow and then we'll go from there, and obviously we're still far away from him starting the baseball progression.' Bregman has been out since May 23 with a significant strain, similar to his left quad strain that cost him 58 games for the Houston Astros in 2021. Bregman started the running program Thursday. He will also have Sunday off before resuming running later next week. Signed by the Red Sox as a free agent to a $120 million, three-year deal during the offseason, Bregman was hitting .299 and 11 homers and 35 RBIs. Marcelo Mayer, who hit his first career homer in Friday's 9-6 loss, has made 10 starts at third base but was not in the lineup against left-hander Ryan Yarbrough and will likely be out of the lineup against southpaw Carlos Rodon on Sunday. The Red Sox entered Saturday with nine losses in 13 games since Bregman was injured. Crawford likely to throw bullpen session next week Cora also said Kutter Crawford is likely to throw a bullpen session at the end of next week as he tries to prepare for a minor league rehabilitation assignment. On Friday, Cora said Crawford was likely to throw a bullpen session this weekend. Crawford hasn't pitched in a game this year because of patellar tendinitis in his right knee. Cora had said Monday that the 29-year-old right-hander would start a rehab assignment this week, then said the following day that Crawford felt wrist pain. He said Friday that Crawford does not have any structural damage. ___ AP MLB: recommended
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
Matteo Manassero and Ryan Fox share the 3rd-round lead in the RBC Canadian Open
Associated Press CALEDON, Ontario (AP) — Matteo Manassero and Ryan Fox each shot 6-under 64 on Saturday to share the third-round lead in the RBC Canadian Open, the final event before the U.S. Open next week at Oakmont. Manassero rebounded from a three-putt bogey on the par-4 17th with a birdie on the par-5 18th — hitting an 80-yard third shot to 2 feet — to get to 14-under 196 on the North Course at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley. 'I missed the short one on 17, and I did miss a couple more short ones today,' Manassero said. 'I try to think of them just like a shot really, like a driver, like a 6-iron, whatever. It's just a shot. So I don't want it to get in my head, and I don't want that to ruin anything or my attitude going towards the next shots.' Trying to win for the first time on the PGA Tour, the 32-year-old Italian player has eight international victories. 'I try to get a good attitude, a good thought process, talk well to myself. Very basic things,' Manassero said. 'I've matured a lot and I have a better perspective towards, for example, a day like tomorrow." Fox also birdied the 18th. The 38-year-old player from New Zealand won the Myrtle Beach Classic last month in a playoff for his first PGA Tour title. 'To be honest, everything went pretty right,' Fox said. 'I drove it great. I think if you do that round here, you give yourself lots of chances. Had a lot of good wedge shots, holed a few putts early. Just played really solid kind of stress-free golf for the most part.' Lee Hodges, Kevin Yu and Matt McCarty were a stroke back. Hodges and Yu shot 63, and McCarty had a 64. Canadian Mackenzie Hughes (64) was 12 under with Jake Knapp (66) and Andrew Putnam (68). 'I've been putting the ball in play quite a bit, driving it pretty nice,' Hughes said. 'I feel like that's taken some pressure off the putter and the short game. It's a big key around here. You start driving it well, you can attack and be aggressive.' Canadian Nick Taylor, the 2023 winner at Oakville, eagled the 18th for a 69 to get to 10 under. Countrymen Adam Hadwin (65) and Taylor Pendrith (67) also were 10 under. Masters champion Rory McIlroy missed the cut Friday, following an opening 71 with a 78. ___ AP golf: recommended
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Brewers' Brandon Woodruff remains upbeat as he deals with one more obstacle in his comeback
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff is putting the best possible spin on the latest setback in his attempted comeback. Woodruff was on the verge of pitching in the majors for the first time since September 2023 when he was struck in the throwing elbow by a line drive with a 108-mph exit velocity during a rehabilitation appearance Tuesday for Triple-A Nashville. That left the two-time All-Star with a bruised elbow that will delay his return once more. 'That's life, you know?' Woodruff said Saturday before the Brewers' game against the San Diego Padres. 'I could have been walking down the street and broke my ankle walking off the sidewalk or something. It's about putting everything in perspective. I was lucky that I got away with what I got away with.' Woodruff, who missed the entire 2024 season with a shoulder injury, isn't putting a timeline on when he could return from this latest issue. He noted that he's waiting for the swelling to go down before he begins throwing again. Brewers manager Pat Murphy mentioned the possibility that Woodruff could start throwing again early next week and could have a bullpen session by at least June 17. The next step after that likely would involve throwing live batting practice and one more rehabilitation assignment. 'The one thing we don't want, for himself and for us both, we don't want this to turn into where we're rushing him back in any way, shape or form, right?' Murphy said. Woodruff, 32, is grateful that testing revealed only had a bruise. He realizes it could have been a much more serious injury. 'It hit me in a spot where it didn't cause any damage,' Woodruff said 'I didn't know that in the moment. My biggest fear was that it was going to be broken and likely cost me the rest of the season.' Woodruff underwent surgery to repair the anterior capsule in his throwing shoulder after the 2023 season, an issue that caused him to miss the Brewers' 2023 NL Wild Card Series loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. He hoped to return early in the 2025 season. It hasn't worked out that way. On two occasions, Woodruff has sustained an unrelated injury while pitching in what he believed would be his final rehabilitation appearance before pitching in the majors again. He dealt with tendinitis in his right ankle last month. Now he faces the elbow issue. 'It sucked in the moment because I'd gotten to essentially the finish line the last two times and something has popped up,' Woodruff said. 'Stay positive. I look at it like my luck will turn around eventually, but man, that's baseball. Things can happen like that. Take it for what it is and just show up the next day and keep going.' Woodruff owns a 3-1 record with a 2.11 ERA in nine minor league appearances, but a guy whose fastball velocity has exceeded 95 mph throughout his major league career hasn't approached that level in his most recent outings. He also has 34 strikeouts over 38 1/3 innings in the minors this year. Woodruff has 788 strikeouts over 680 1/3 innings during his 130 career appearances with Milwaukee. 'The last couple outings, what we saw, obviously, he's holding back a little bit,' Murphy said. 'He had an ankle situation the last couple outings. We saw the stuff isn't 'old Woody' and I mean, yet. So, we'll deal with that when he comes here, but his stuff will tick up once he gets here.' Woodruff acknowledges his velocity has gone down a bit as he works his way back, but he believes that will change once he's off the injured list and back in a Brewers uniform. 'Once you get here, it's a different animal,' Woodruff said. 'The adrenaline's pumping a lot more, so I'm expecting a little bit of a jump there.' Woodruff isn't the only notable player the Brewers are hoping to get back. Murphy said Saturday that outfielders Garrett Mitchell and Blake Perkins could begin playing games later this month, first in Arizona and later in Nashville, with the hope that they could get activated before the All-Star break. Perkins still hasn't played this season after fracturing his right shin in batting practice early in spring training. Mitchell is dealing with a left oblique injury and last played on April 25. ___ AP MLB:
