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First Post
27-05-2025
- Sport
- First Post
'Gill is the third-best option': Virender Sehwag believes Rishabh Pant deserved to be captain after Jasprit Bumrah
Virender Sehwag said Shubman Gill was not the second-best option for Test captaincy, calling Rishabh Pant more deserving. Sehwag explained his views by comparing Rishabh Pant to Virat Kohli. read more Ever since the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced Shubman Gill as the new captain of the Indian Test team, there has been a lot of buzz in the cricket world. The latest to share his views on the development is former India cricketer Virender Sehwag. Sehwag said that Shubman Gill was not the second-best option for captaincy after Jasprit Bumrah. According to Sehwag, it was Rishabh Pant who deserved to be India's Test captain when Bumrah reportedly denied the job due to workload pressure and injury concerns. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sehwag says Pant should have been the captain Speaking on Cricbuzz, Sehwag agreed with the selectors for not choosing Bumrah as captain but disagreed with former cricketer Manoj Tiwary, who said Gill was the second-best choice. When the BCCI announced the squad for the England series last week, Ajit Agarkar said they wanted to pick someone for the long term. 'For a series, Bumrah is okay. But as a long-term option, you need to ask if India play 10 Tests in a year, will he be able to play all those matches? Or, how many matches can he play? That is a major factor in picking a captain. So that I feel was the right decision, because they felt they could not put that pressure and load on Bumrah. Tiwary said Gill is the second-best, but I feel that is Rishabh Pant, and Gill is the third-best,' Sehwag said. Sehwag explains his views Explaining his view, Sehwag said that after Virat Kohli, the player who should be credited for reviving Indian fans' interest in Test cricket is Rishabh Pant. Sehwag cited Pant's performances in Test cricket before he got injured in a car accident that ruled him out of the game for more than a year. Pant famously hit the winning runs in the Gabba Test when India won their second consecutive away series against Australia. 'What Pant did for Test cricket, no other player has done. After Virat Kohli, if there is one player who has compelled fans into watching Test cricket, it's Pant. But because he had that accident, got injured and then came back, he did not have that much of an impact, and hence he was made the vice-captain, thinking that if he can bounce back to form, they can take that decision of making him the captain in the future. But there are very few bowlers who are made the captain. In my career, it was just Anil Kumble, who loved the format, was available and was a certainty in the XI,' Sehwag said. India's chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained why the BCCI picked Shubman Gill as captain instead of Rishabh Pant, who got the role of the deputy. 'I mean, he's the vice-captain. He's been one of our best batters in Test cricket over the last four or five years—around 40 Tests, I believe. He's always had a great view of the game from behind the stumps as a wicketkeeper, and that experience is invaluable. That's why he's Shubman's deputy right now—he can support him with all the experience he brings. He's an incredible player. We're obviously looking at players who can take the team forward in the coming years,' Agarkar said.
Mint
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Shubman Gill at No. 3 or No. 4? Cheteshwar Pujara picks top order for India's tour to England
The Test squad has been announced, and it has a new captain in the form of Shubman Gill as India are less than a month away from their gruelling five-match Test series in England. The team is sporting a slew of new faces and the return of a couple of old ones as the Indian Test side starts its new era without stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli. Veteran Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has had his say on the team, especially on the Indian batting order, as it is the biggest talking point ahead of the tour to England. The retirements of Sharma and Kohli have not only created a leadership vacuum, but they have also left a sizeable hole in the top order. The former was the team's opener, while the latter occupied the key number 4 position. Pujara spoke to Sony Sports Network, who will broadcast the England tour, and opined, "The openers who batted in Australia in the BGT (Border-Gavaskar Trophy) series — KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal — should continue. Now talking about No. 3, at this stage we don't know whether Shubman Gill will bat there or drop to No. 4. "If Shubman bats at No. 4, then someone like Abhimanyu Easwaran or Karun Nair could be a good fit at that position, but I still would like to see Shubman batting at No. 3," he said. Pujara further went on to say, "Someone like Karun, who has done well in domestic cricket, I think the ideal position for Karun would be No. 4. If Shubman bats at No. 3, then Karun Nair comes in at No. 4. 'If Shubman bats at No. 4, then at No. 3 it would be a choice between Abhimanyu Easwaran or Sai Sudharsan.' Gill, 25, will lead a young, inexperienced Indian Test side on a tough challenge in the pace-friendly conditions of England. Earlier on May 24, Saturday, former cricketer Mohammed Kaif felt India's new Test skipper has a shot at glory since expectations could be low due to the recent exits of the three stalwarts. Kaif drew comparisons to India's tour to Australia in 2021, in which Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Ajinkya Rahane led a young side to a 2-1 win in the four-match series. "When Rahane was leading India in Australia, before the Gabba Test, everyone had said that it was a very young team. "So, Gill should probably phone Rahane and have a chat because Rahane had done some brilliant work on that tour with a young side. "Gill has to do something like that as well,' Kaif said in the video posted on his X account. India begins its tour to England on June 20, when the first Test begins at Headingley. They will play four more Tests before heading back home, and Gill will look to be the first Indian captain to win a Test series in England since Rahul Dravid in 2007.
India Today
25-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Mohammad Kaif wants Shubman Gill to take inspiration from Rahane ahead of England tour
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has asked Shubman Gill to take inspiration from Ajinkya Rahane ahead of the upcoming tour of England. Gill has been appointed as the captain of the Indian Test team following Rohit Sharma's retirement. The upcoming England series will be his first assignment as the skipper as India begin their new era without Rohit Sharma and Virat of the series, Kaif has asked Gill to talk to Rahane as he also led a young team in Australia during the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21. Hence, he has advised the youngster to take inspiration from him as he embarks on his journey as Test captain.'When Rahane was leading India in Australia, before the Gabba Test everyone had said that it is a very young team. So, Gill should probably phone Rahane and have a chat, because Rahane had done some brilliant work in that tour with a young side. Gill has to do something like that as well,' Kaif said in a video shared on his X account. Rahane led the Indian team to a famous series win in Australia after Virat Kohli returned home after the first Test for the birth of his first child. The stand-in captain inspired the young team to script a remarkable comeback in the series as they eventually went on to win by 2-1, ending Australia's 34-year unbeaten streak at the Rishabh Pant has been handed the vice-captaincy of the Test side. Karun Nair has finally made his comeback after eight years after plundering runs in domestic cricket. Mohammed Shami has failed to find a spot due to fitness concerns, while Arshdeep Singh has earned his maiden Test call-up. Sarfaraz Khan has also been dropped from the team despite not getting a single chance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
Mint
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Shubman Gill asked to emulate Ajinkya Rahane in India's tour of England; ‘Chance for Gill to become a hero'
Shubman Gill has been handed over the reigns of the Test team as India are set to embark on a gruelling five-match red ball series in England, beginning on June 20. Gill will lead a new-look Indian Test side, which has seen the veteran trio of R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli call time on their red ball international career over the last few months. Gill, 25, has an uphill task to guide this inexperienced Indian team on a tough challenge in the pace-friendly conditions of England and former cricketer Mohammed Kaif has some advice for the new captain In a video posted on X, Kaif drew comparisons to India's tour to Australia in 2021, in which Rahane lead a young side to a 2-1 win in the four-match series. "When Rahane was leading India in Australia, before the Gabba Test everyone had said that it is a very young team. "So, Gill should probably phone Rahane and have a chat, because Rahane had done some brilliant work in that tour with a young side. "Gill has to do something like that as well,' Kaif said in the video posted on his X account. Kaif also felt Gill has a shot at glory since expectations could be low due to the recent exits of the three stalwarts. 'I think this is a chance for Gill to become a hero. He is getting an opportunity to lead a young team in England, and in such cases sometimes the expectations are a bit low. That is something that Gill can use to his benefit,' the former cricketer opined. A young Indian team is set to embark on a tough tour to England where they will play five Test matches, starting on June 20 at Headingley. Meanwhile, England have made the best possible start to their summer after they coasted to an innings and 45-run victory over Zimbabwe on Saturday, in the one-off Test at Trent Bridge. Captain Ben Stokes made his much-awaited return to international cricket and created an impact with the ball while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir bagged the man of the match for his 9-wicket haul.
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Shubman Gill told to ‘phone-call Ajinkya Rahane' before leaving for England: 'He has to do something similar'
As Shubman Gill prepares for his first assignment as India's Test captain, former cricketer Mohammed Kaif has offered a rather unusual suggestion: phone Ajinkya Rahane. Ending weeks of speculation, chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed that Gill would lead the Test side in England, succeeding Rohit Sharma. With a young squad set to travel for the five-match series beginning June 20, Kaif believes the 25-year-old finds himself in a situation eerily similar to one Rahane faced in 2021, even as the latter was relatively more experienced at the time. Back then, India were without regular captain Virat Kohli for most of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and a depleted squad was expected to crumble under Australian pressure. Instead, Rahane marshalled an inexperienced team to a historic series win, capped off by the stunning Gabba triumph. Kaif sees echoes of that tour in India's current circumstances. 'I think this is a chance for Gill to become a hero,' Kaif said in a video posted on X. 'He is getting an opportunity to lead a young team in England, and in such cases sometimes the expectations are a bit low. That is something that Gill can use to his benefit.' The former India batter drew a direct comparison between the two situations, suggesting that Gill could take a cue from how Rahane handled leadership under pressure. 'When Rahane was leading India in Australia, before the Gabba Test everyone had said that it is a very young team,' Kaif said. 'So, Gill should probably phone Rahane and have a chat, because Rahane had done some brilliant work in that tour with a young side. Gill has to do something like that as well,' he added. Gill's appointment marks a significant shift in India's red-ball leadership. With no Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli in the squad, the tour of England presents both a daunting challenge and a rare opportunity for India's next generation. Rishabh Pant, who has been a key mainstay in the Indian Test setup for many years, has been named Gill's deputy, a sign that the selectors and the team management have an eye on the future. The Indian team will still be travelling with a considerable number of seniors, including KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah.
