
"He Knows That The Selectors...": Ex-India Star Points Out What Gives Shubman Gill Confidence
Come June 20, and the sight of Shubman Gill donning the India blazer and walking out for the toss in the series opener against England at Headingley will make for a significant visual. The retirement of key players like Kohli and Sharma ushers in a new era for India's Test team, with Gill taking center stage as the new captain. Apart from navigating the leadership side of things, there will be high expectations from Gill to assert his authority as a match-winner with the bat too, considering his overseas Test record doesn't make for a mighty impressive read.
Having witnessed Gill's potential firsthand as the India U19 head coach on tour of England in 2017, former India cricketer WV Raman believes that the right-handed batter not being seen as a stop-gap Test captain pick will allow him to excel in both his roles as batter and captain.
"He's come a long way since we spent some time in England when he was a part of the Under-19 side. What he's done well is to try and identify the areas he needs to improve and he's done that. Even starting with conversing in English, he's made leaps and bounds in terms of improving the areas that he needed to As far as Gill is concerned, I think he's aware of the fact that he will not be just a stop-gap option."
"He knows that the selectors will back him for a while. So, that should give him a lot of confidence, even as a batter, because if he was not the captain, maybe he might be feeling a little bit insecure and he might think that the axe is definitely hanging above his head. But now that he's made the captain, I think he doesn't need to even have those kinds of thoughts, which will obviously help him to get runs," said Raman to IANS in an exclusive interaction organised by Sony Sports Network.
With India's batting order to be firmed up once the intra-squad game ends, it remains to be seen whether Gill would bat at three or become a permanent number four position holder. Raman, who also coached India women's team, wants Gill to wait for the ball to come to him and then go for his shots in England's swinging conditions.
"But as far as the technical part of things are concerned, he needs to try and wait for the ball to come on to him, rather than look to try and play on the up as he does normally on these tracks here in the subcontinent, which is the way he's used to batting before leading up to this series in the IPL," he added.
Apart from Gill, vice-captain and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant also has a very huge role to play in the series against England. As one of the most experienced cricketers set-up now in the leadership group, a lot will be expected from Pant on England's lively pitches after having a tour of Australia which didn't really meet the lofty expectations people have from him.
"He's got to back himself and tell himself that he's played some out-of-this-world innings in Test cricket to win matches for India, or to perhaps possibly even secure a draw for India abroad. So, that is what he must bank on."
"These things obviously will come into play when you're on a tough tour - the things that X, Y has done in the past. That's where they'll draw the inspiration from. It's all a matter of Rishabh Pant having a couple of good hours in the first Test, and the entire landscape will change," added Raman.
Undeniably, Gill and Pant face the momentous challenge of propelling the Indian Test cricket team into the next decade, irrespective of the inherent ups and downs coming in this period, starting from the series in England. "I think there is no pressure on this particular Indian team for the simple reason that everybody realises that this team is going through transition."
"The fact that everybody is already looking at being patient with them is a big plus for them, and I think that's the big plus for this current Indian side. Under a new captain and a new vice-captain with a lot of slots up for grabs is a situation where everybody realises that there will be a bit of pressure on them."
"But at the same time, it's a big opportunity for a lot of youngsters and also for people like Karun Nair to try and cement their place, because if they end up performing in a key series like this, it will stand them in good stead," concluded Raman.
The much-anticipated India tour of England, starting from June 20, will be shown live and exclusive on the Sony Sports Network channels.

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India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
"Great opportunity for Washington Sundar": Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan on India's England tour
By Diptayan Hazra Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 15 (ANI): With Team India gearing up for the highly anticipated Test series against England, former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) cricketer Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan has weighed in with his insights on what lies ahead. Vidyut touched upon the void left by some of India's legends, the emergence of new talent, and the importance of adapting to England's ever-changing conditions. The retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin has opened the door for other spin all-rounders to step up, and Vidyut is confident that Washington Sundar could be the one to watch. 'Yeah, absolutely. I think, you know, it's been very tough on Washi (Washington Sundar) because he has just never been a permanent figure in the squad. However well he does,' he told ANI. Vidyut pointed out that despite Sundar delivering under pressure in the Indian Premier League (IPL) or international formats, he's yet to become a consistent part of India's plans. 'You have seen him in the IPL in Gujarat (Gujarat Titans). He comes back to No. 4 in one game and the team is in trouble. He gets the job done. He doesn't play again. Again, he comes back. He plays. I remember a one-day series in New Zealand, the ball is doing a lot, he comes in No. 4, plays beautifully,' he added. 'Australia, Gabba, he has been a brilliant performer but it's just very unfortunate that he has not been a permanent fixture. I have a lot of respect for him because it's not easy as a cricketer, you don't get an opportunity when you need to. When you get an opportunity, you really stand up,' he noted. Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan called Sundar a 'fantastic' batter and predicted that he will deliever great performances in the England series. 'So, I think this will be a great series for him and mind you, I have spent a lot of time with Washi in the junior level, Tamil Nadu's under-19s, Tamil Nadu's A-teams. He is a fantastic batter. You know, in these kind of conditions, he will be a top-class player. Great No. 7, No. 8 to have,' Vidyut said. 'He can get that 40-50 runs for you at will and of course, his bowling is very, very good. He is a smart fielder as well. So, he will definitely add a lot of value to the Indian side,' he remarked. India will miss not just Ashwin's spin wizardry, but also his all-round value, especially in crunch situations. 'Yeah, definitely, we are going to miss Ashwin a lot. Not only as a bowler, but as a batter. In SENA countries, there have been a lot of occasions where India has been 140 for 5-6, and people like Ashwin, Jadeja, and Pant have really stepped up and taken the score to 280-300. Which actually made a big difference in the end,' he said. Still, Vidyut believes Ravindra Jadeja will shoulder much of the responsibility in Ashwin's absence, 'His spinning buddy and very good friend, Ravindra Jadeja, is still there. He has a lot of value to add as a batter and as a bowler. People like him have to step up because three legends have retired. It's going to be a challenge, but a great opportunity for someone to have a path-breaking series.' Speaking on the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Vidyut acknowledged the significance of the void but looked at the upside, 'It is going to be a challenge. Huge shoes to fill, especially in Test cricket. We have seen what Virat Kohli has done in England, both as a player and a captain. Rohit Sharma, the way he transitioned into a Test opener, was amazing.' 'Not only as batters, but as leaders on the field, their presence will be missed but it's a great opportunity for young batters to step up. We have talents like Jaiswal (Yashasvi Jaiswal), who has been unbelievable in Test cricket, Sai Sudharshan, Karun Nair, who have done very well in county cricket, and we have Rishabh Pant, who has batted beautifully in England,' he said. 'So, I don't think it's very worrisome. We have the players to really step up but are we going to miss Virat and Rohit? Definitely, no doubt about it,' he added. 'It is going to be a challenge but like I said, we have played in England before. Lot of these guys travel there with the A-teams and they go for lot of academy tours,' Vidyut noted while addinng that 'So, they know what to expect there. So, I look forward to it. It's going to be a challenge but we have the players to get the job done'. Vidyut emphasized the importance of adapting to the ever-changing English conditions. 'The biggest lesson is it's got to be condition-centric. Like you saw, the first two days were completely owned by the bowlers and the third day, the sun was out. I think from second day evening and the third day, you know, things can change in England very, very fast (On World Test Championship Final). So, I think that's going to be the biggest lesson for India. There will be time for two-and-a-half hours you won't get even one boundary but there will be a time when the sun comes out, the pitch dries up, you will get a flurry of boundaries and again, in another one hour, you know, the conditions are going to change,' he noted. 'So, it's going to be how we are going to, you know, keep assessing the conditions. As a batter especially, you know, because like I said, it's not going to be like Australia, South Africa. After you play for, you know, maybe half an hour, you know the bounce, you know the pace. It's going to be even throughout. England is not going to be that way. There's going to be a lot of lateral and sideward movement and because of the conditions, it will change a lot. So, I think that will be the biggest, you know, learning for India,' he added. 'Like things can change very quickly. Then they need to be a little smart about how they go about things in that aspect,' the former CSK cricketer said. Apart from weather and conditions, Vidyut warned about external pressures, especially from English crowds. 'The crowds can put a lot of pressure. England fans can get under your skin. It's how the team handles the pressure, the chatter, and the noise around, especially with a new captain and a young side,' he said. 'One bad innings, and people might start judging. That's where support staff becomes important to keep the players mentally strong,' he noted. On England's aggressive 'Bazball' strategy, Vidyut offered his perspective, 'It's very difficult to play that way in India, as we saw during England's last tour. The pitches slow down, the ball softens, and hitting through the line becomes difficult.' 'It might work in England under batting-friendly conditions, but it also exposes them. They can get a 120-run partnership in 80 balls but also lose 3-4 wickets in no time,' he added. 'So, that's something India should look at because Bazball, I think it's quite hyped. It's also a media name and England will also look to maybe see how they can do things a little differently because it's not worked really well for them over a period of time. It is exciting. It's great to watch. It's good for the crowd but have they got the desired results over a period of time? I really don't know. I don't think so. I think India can really make use of that. I think Indian bowlers, if they are smart... We have a lot of variety in this bowling lineup. If they are smart, I think they can really put a lot of pressure in England if they continue playing with the same method,' he remarked. Vidyut reserved special praise for Tamil Nadu's Sai Sudharsan, 'I am really looking forward to Sai Sudharsan. I think on a personal level because he hails from Tamil Nadu. I have spent some time with him. I have spoken to him. He is very hungry to do well. He has a great temperament and he has the game to really flourish in England.' 'He plays close to the body. He understands conditions well. He has played there before in county cricket. So, I really look forward to watching him bat at the highest level. Till now, it's been a great journey for him. In the white ball format, he has showed glimpses of what he is capable of,' he noted. 'So, if he can get the job done in England, I will be very happy for the kid because he is one of the most hard-working and humble kids I have seen. So, I look forward to him,' he said. Vidyut further mentioned that he is a big fan of Joe Root while calling his batting style a 'real poetry in motion'. 'I am a big fan of Joe Root. My son is a big fan of Joe Root. So, I really want to see Joe Root go about his business because when he gets going, it's absolute class. Real poetry in motion. So, I enjoy watching Joe Root bat,' Vidyut noted. 'When England is in trouble, he comes. The way he goes about things. The way he reads the situation is an absolute pleasure to watch,' he added. Tune into Sony Sports Network from June 20 for the India-England Test Series. (ANI)


India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
Bengaluru stampede: Leader of Opposition R Ashok demands emergency assembly session
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 15 (ANI): Karnataka Leader of Opposition (LoP) R Ashok has urged the state government to convene an emergency session of the legislature to discuss the stampede tragedy at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. In a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Ashok highlighted that the incident has raised serious questions about public safety, crowd control, and the organisation of sports and other events. The tragedy has caused anxiety and concern among the public and alleged that lapses in administration, the government's actions post-incident, and attempts to shield influential individuals have led to widespread doubts, said a statement. Ashok claimed that three separate investigations are being conducted to conceal the truth, and helpless officials are being scapegoated, as per public discussions. He emphasised the need for a comprehensive discussion on measures to prevent such incidents in the future, proposing a three-day emergency session. The session should address a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the stampede, strengthening crowd control and safety measures at public events, ensuring proper treatment for the injured, providing compensation to affected families, and outlining the state government's plans to avoid such incidents in the future. Ashok stated that the emergency session would demonstrate the state government's commitment to the public and help implement appropriate measures based on lessons learned from the tragedy. He also urged the government to disclose the causes of the incident to the public and take legal action against those responsible. Eleven people died and more than 30 were injured in a stampede outside Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy stadium as a huge crowd of nearly 3 lakh people had gathered to witness the victory celebration of Royal Challengers Bengaluru for winning the Indian Premier League (IPL). Following the incident, the Karnataka government on June 5 suspended top police officials at the Cubbon Park Police Station and formed a one-man commission under a retired High Court Judge to probe the incident. (ANI)


NDTV
3 hours ago
- NDTV
"Cannot Win Such A Big Series On...": Ex-India Star's Timely Reminder For Shubman Gill And Co
Former cricketer Madan Lal has expressed confidence in the team's chances, highlighting the strength of India's bowling unit. Speaking about the upcoming challenge, Lal said, "We will see what happens when the Test series starts from June 20, but India can perform well because we have the best bowling attack. If you have a good bowling attack, then you can win Test matches." India, who have often struggled with consistency in overseas conditions, especially in England, will need to fire on all fronts. Madan Lal emphasised that relying on individual brilliance alone won't be enough to win a series of this magnitude. "You cannot win such a big series on the basis of one player. Other players will also have to contribute," he said. He acknowledged Jasprit Bumrah's importance in the squad, calling him the best in the business. "Bumrah is an important player, he is the number one bowler, but other players will also have to take wickets," he noted. While the bowlers are expected to play a critical role, Lal also stressed the need for India's batting unit to step up. "If our batsmen score runs in this series, then we will win," Lal asserted. With the series opener just days away, all eyes will be on how the Indian team balances both its pace attack and batting depth in swinging English conditions. The five-match Test series will take place from June 20 to August 4, with matches scheduled at Headingley (Leeds), Edgbaston (Birmingham), Lord's and The Oval (London), and Old Trafford (Manchester). India's Test squad for England series: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.