&w=3840&q=100)
'I think he is a good choice': Ex-England skippers Nasser Hussain, Eoin Morgan on Shubman Gill becoming Test captain
Former England captains Nasser Hussain and Eoin Morgan have backed Shubman Gill as India's new Test captain. Both said that it's a smart long-term move after the retirement of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin. read more
of India by the BCCI and the decision has received a big thumbs-up from former England captains Nasser Hussain and Eoin Morgan. Both legends praised the move and said Gill is ready to lead the team into a new era after the retirement of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin.
Nasser Hussain calls Shubman a high-class player
Speaking to Sky Sports, Nasser Hussain said, 'Nine months ago, if you put on a probable squad for India, you would probably have Ravi Ashwin in there, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma — three of the greats of Indian cricket. Well, they have all retired. With Rohit retiring, you need a new captain. Shubman gets that role, a great honour for him to be captain of India.'
Hussain explained that Jasprit Bumrah could have been a captain too, but India is clearly looking at the long term. 'Jasprit Bumrah was vice-captain, has captained in the past, but obviously, with them saying that he may not play all five Test matches and his injury record, they are looking long-term — someone who can play for a very long time — and they feel Shubman Gill is that man. He is a high-class player, but his record away from home is not as good as at home. He has captained well recently in the IPL. I think he is a good choice.'
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
'But, as I said at the start, there are names missing there, and I think for that reason it's a very good opportunity for England. But make no mistake, that is a strong squad, and whoever you bring in — Karun Nair, for example — hasn't played Test match cricket for 8 years. Last time England saw him, he got a triple hundred against them, and he has been prolific in first-class cricket,' Hussain concluded.
Eoin Morgan backs Shubman Gill as captain
Eoin Morgan, who captained Gill in the IPL, echoed Hussain's thoughts. 'Some obvious names are missing – Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin. But it's still a very strong squad. I think the captaincy decision is the right one. I played alongside Shubman Gill at Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL a few years ago. He's a natural leader. He takes on responsibility within a group and doesn't mind questioning methodology within the camp. But ultimately, he keeps the collective goal in focus.'
'I would, without a doubt and without a ball being bowled, make England the favourites. I haven't looked at any of the betting markets, but based on home form and the journey this England Test team is on, I'd say things are currently in their favour. It's a good position to be in. I've played in some really poor teams where we were never the favourites. So yes, you'd rather be the favourites. But it's definitely going to be a tough tour for India,' he added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
36 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Siddaramaiah deflects Bengaluru stampede blame, says 'no connection to stadium'
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah attempted to dissociate his government from the Bengaluru stampede tragedy on Sunday, claiming it didn't have 'any connection with the stadium'. Eleven people died and scores sustained injuries after the stampede broke out outside the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru on June 4 during RCB's IPL victory celebrations. "This incident shouldn't have happened. It happened at the Cricket stadium. I don't have any connection with the cricket stadium," he said at the press conference. Also read: 'My son will not come back': Father of Bengaluru stampede victim says compensation will go to wife, daughter Pinning the blame for the stampede on officials, Siddaramaiah also said that this was the first such incident in the state under his leadership and that they have taken action by suspending several officials. "It was an unfortunate incident, it shouldn't have happened. Such an incident never happened after I became the CM. Prima facie it seems to have happened because of the officials' fault, so we have taken action. Everyone is in pain, including me,' he said. When asked whether now-suspended Bengaluru Police commissioner B Dayananda was being made a scapegoat, Siddaramaiah said that five other officials have also been suspended. Highlighting his government's action in response to the stampede, he said, "My political secretary, K Govindaraj, has been removed. We have taken a series of actions, not just the police commissioner alone." The chief minister also added that it was only at 5.45 pm on June 4 that he got to know about the deaths due to the stampede, while they were reported at the hospital at 3.50 pm. Also read: Bengaluru stampede: Siddaramaiah says he learned of deaths only at 5.45 pm 'I came to know that deaths happened at 5.45 pm. At 3.50 pm, deaths were reported at the hospital, but I came to know about it only at 5.45 pm. Until that point, I was not aware of deaths taking place due to the stampede,' he said. Siddaramaiah was not present at the event held at the Chinnaswamy stadium on June 4. However, he did attend the felicitation ceremony for the RCB held in front of Vidhana Soudha on the invitation of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA ) Secretary and Treasurer. The BJP-led Opposition has demanded the chief minister's resignation. Last week, the Karnataka government announced a compensation of ₹25 lakh for the families of those who died in the stampede. With inputs from PTI
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
R Ashwin argues with female umpire, hits his pad with bat in anger after getting out in TNPL match
Ravichandran Ashwin lost his cool during Sunday's Tamil Nadu Premier League match between Dindigul Dragons and IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans. Ashwin, who had a rough IPL season with Chennai Super Kings, has returned to action in TNPL, leading Dindigul Dragons in the 2025 edition. The veteran all-rounder came out to bat as an opener after losing the toss to Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore. The move didn't work out well, as Ashwin was dismissed cheaply for just 18 by his counterpart - Sai Kishore. However, the former India all-rounder was not impressed with the umpire's decision and argued with her. It was the fifth ball of the fifth over, and Sai Kishore trapped Ashwin in front of the wicket, and the umpire straightaway gave him out, but the Dindigul opener thought it was pitching outside the leg-stump. He straightaway went to the umpire and argued with her before walking back towards the pavilion. The 38-year-old was livid with the decision and hit his pads hard with the bat in frustration. The Tiruppur bowlers put up a collective show with the ball and bundled out Ashwin and co. for just 93 in 16.2 overs. Shivam was Dindigul's highest run-getter with a 30-run knock, while only three of their batters managed to cross the double-digit mark. Right-arm seamer Esakkimuthu was the pick of the bowlers for Tiruppur with four wickets under his kitty, while Sai Kishore claimed a couple. Chasing the modest target, wicketkeeper batter Tushar Raheja scored an unbeaten 65 to make it a cakewalk for Tiruppur as they won the match by 9 wickets with 49 balls to spare to stamp their domination in the match. Earlier, 38-year-old Ashwin had a forgettable IPL season on his return to Chennai Super Kings, where he started his journey in the tournament in 2009. The veteran all-rounder claimed just 7 wickets in 9 matches and scored 33 runs with the bat. Five-time champions CSK might release him next year, as he has also dropped from the XI in a few matches this year. Meanwhile, last year in December, he shocked the cricketing world by announcing his retirement with immediate effect in the middle of the Test series against Australia. Ashwin retired from international cricket as the second-highest wicket-taker for India in Tests with 537 scalps in 106 games, leaving him only behind Anil Kumble (619 wickets).
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
More Noise, Less Nudge: IPL ads fail to stand out
Mumbai: Despite record-breaking viewership and soaring ad spends, most ads aired during IPL 2025 may have already faded from public memory. While the on-field cricket remains fiercely competitive, advertising creativity appears to be on autopilot, raising serious questions about return on investment and long-term brand impact. This year, the IPL began with what many consider one of the best—and probably the costliest—ads of the season. Dream11's campaign featured Aamir Khan, Ranbir Kapoor and a galaxy of celebrities and cricket stars, setting the tone for the tournament and its rivalries. It was witty, memorable and widely shared. But after that strong start, most ads barely made a mark. Take the much-discussed spot featuring Rohit Sharma talking about financial planning, or MS Dhoni promoting a tile adhesive. Both had star power and brand fit, yet the creative left viewers more puzzled than persuaded. Data from TAM Media Research reveals that more than 105 advertisers and 190 brands participated across the first 70 matches of IPL 2025, with a 27% jump in advertiser count and a 28% rise in brand count over last year. The overall ad volume on TV grew marginally, just 0.45% higher than IPL 2024. But the creative bar hasn't risen alongside. Also read: IPL giant GMR tackles rugby with India League, aims to build Olympic-aligned IP 'While a few brave brands are pushing creative boundaries, most of the advertising seems to be working in a safe, high-frequency mode," said Anshu Yardi, vice-president–business partnerships & communication at TAM Media Research. 'The opportunity is still massive, but innovation requires risk, and during IPL many brands may want to play safe." Ad fatigue at a time of infinite content The issue might extend beyond just ineffective ads; it could reflect a deeper cultural shift in how we define 'good" advertising itself. Abhishek Jain, business director at creative agency Virtue India, believes the competition for consumer attention has moved far beyond traditional formats. 'Ads 'seem' boring now compared to the content—quick, snackable pieces of sponsored entertainment —they are competing with," he said. 'We are now finding relatability in culture and culture in content. Traditional ads just don't have that same shareability or zing." The IPL skew: Not made for storytelling Sandeep Goyal, media veteran and chairman of Rediffusion, is blunt in his assessment. 'The mediocrity of IPL actually reflects the slipping standards of creativity overall. But specific to the IPL, for years now, the secondages have been dominated by the money power of VC-funded brands. Regular brands in FMCG just can't afford the IPL rates. So that skew is the starting point," he said. In the context of advertising, 'secondages" refers to the total number of seconds of advertising airtime. Also read: Will CCI's crackdown reshape the ad industry? Media veteran Raj Nayak explains 'The brands that spend—like a lot in BFSI—are really not seasoned campaigners. They are out to buy noticeability and brand recall, not build emotive narratives that endear them to consumers. Most ads are focused on product superiority, much like 'explainer' videos." He also takes aim at the overuse of celebrities. 'The less said about celebrities, the better. It is now a formula. Nothing more. No attempt to differentiate. No attempt to craft a story that engages. Most celebrities are high on recognition but low on emulatability. A Rohit Sharma dispensing advice on investing! MSD (Dhoni) talking of paints. Consumers just shrug off most such ads. They may remember the brand and even the celebrity, but do not necessarily buy as per the celebrity's endorsement because the pitch carries no real conviction." Creativity costs, and time is a luxury A chief marketing officer (CMO) of a major consumer brand, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted that IPL advertising may never become a true creative showcase like the Super Bowl. 'You don't get everything—budgets are tight, and IPL runs every day for nearly two months. Dream11, Swiggy, ZooZoos from Vodafone—they've created brilliant ads in the past. But those are rare exceptions," the executive said. 'Most CMOs simply don't get the time or investment needed to make IPL campaigns creatively rich. The result is rinse-repeat formats, celebrity plug-ins, and safe messaging." Marquee moment or media burst? Another senior executive from a brand that advertised during IPL 2025 wondered whether advertisers truly understand what a marquee property should be. 'If you're treating IPL as a launch pad, that's fine. But how much can you really build when you're racing against time and media costs just to deliver a message?" According to them, IPL's biggest strength—aggregation of eyeballs—is also its biggest creative limitation. 'If 60-65 crore people are watching, that's huge. But then you're up against frequency fatigue, creative limits and the ticking clock. It's hard to craft something with depth when you're just trying to be everywhere, fast." Also read: Rooter picks up exclusive digital rights for esports tournament BGMI Masters Series The executive added, 'Are people even anticipating IPL ads the way they used to? Are we just spending for attention, or are we creating anything truly memorable? The search for the elusive advertising season continues… is IPL the Nirvana?" So, can the IPL ever be India's Super Bowl? Everyone wants to recreate the cultural buzz and longevity that Super Bowl ads in the US command. But experts agree that for IPL to reach that level, Indian advertisers need to move beyond formula, spend more time on narrative and treat the IPL window not just as a media buy, but as a storytelling opportunity. 'Campaigns are not being created for the long run," Goyal added. 'They are usually for one season, and then everybody feels the need for a refresh because digital has created attention-deficiency syndrome." Until that mindset changes, IPL may remain a grand stage—but one where few ads deserve an encore.
