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India.com
7 hours ago
- Sport
- India.com
India vs England 2025 1st Test: Yograj Singh makes MASSIVE statement about Shubman Gill on captaincy debut, he says…
Shubman Gill (right) and Yograj Singh. (Source: X) Shubman Gill kicked off a fresh start for Team India in Test cricket, taking over the reigns from Rohit Sharma officially on Friday as the first match of the five-Test series against England got underway at Headingley in Leeds. Gill has now become fifth-youngest cricketer to lead India in Test cricket after Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev and Ravi Shastri at 25 years and 285 days. Former India cricketer Yograj Singh, father of Indian southpaw Yuvraj Singh, is someone who has kept a close eye on Shubman Gill along with his son. Yuvraj has been like a mentor to Gill since both of them were playing for Punjab Ranji Trophy team. Yograj Singh believes Gill needs to lead from the front and take the team forward along with him, much like Kapil Dev did in the 1983 World Cup. Gill has massive shoes to fill as he steps into the No. 4 position which has been left vacant by Virat Kohli after his retirement from Test cricket last month. Not only Kohli, Indian Test skipper Rohit Sharma also called time on Test career last month. With Jasprit Bumrah not keen on taking over as Indian captain and Rishabh Pant's inconsistent form, the Indian selectors didn't have any other choice apart from Shubman Gill. The first statement of intent comes from #YashasviJaiswal – a shot of pure authority to kick off #TeamIndia's innings! 🙌🏻 The opening pair is looking solid, & the sun is shining bright in England! ☀️🏏 Seekhne nahi, Sikhaane aaye hai 💪 Watch now 👉 — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 20, 2025 According to Yograj, Gill must set his individual run-scoring target and take the team forward with him. Yuvraj Singh's father also shared his prediction for the five-match series and believes India has the potential to conquer England for the first time in 18 years on English shores. 'A few days ago, I was talking to Yuvraj Singh about Abhishek (Sharma) and Shubman Gill. Yuvraj said he would have to lead from the front. As Shubman Gill goes out to bat, he has to stay at the crease for the maximum time. When a captain leads from the front, and scores run. It is important for Shubman to set a target of 100, 200 or 300. He has to lead from the front. He also has to take everyone forward together, just like Kapil Dev did in the 1983 World Cup. I believe India will win the series,' Yograj Singh was quoted as saying ANI news agency. Earlier, Yograj Singh had slammed MS Dhoni for ending the 'brotherly' culture in the Indian team. '(We had) Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Javagal Srinath, Anil Kumble, and others. Bhajji (Harbhajan Singh), Yuvi (Yuvraj), Viru (Virender Sehwag), (Mohammed) Kaif, Zaheer (Khan) among youngsters. Combination of elder and younger brothers. That's why they could lead the youngsters and become the greatest of all time. And what we did? We burned out the whole house by just standing for one person. I won't name him. Where is he? See what happened,' said Yograj in an interview to Insidesport website. Meanwhile, Gill lost the toss in his first match as captain and Ben Stokes sent Team India in to bat first.
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Punjab's prodigy Shubman 1st from state to lead Team India
Nearly 11 summers ago, 14-year-old Shubman Gill made headlines after a record-breaking 587-run opening partnership in a U-16 Punjab inter-district match. Today, at 25, he has etched his name into Indian cricket history as the new captain of India's Test team, succeeding Rohit Sharma. Shubman first assignment as captain will be the high-profile five-Test series in England, starting June 20. With his appointment, he becomes the first male cricketer from Punjab to lead the Indian Test team — a feat that mirrors the success of Punjab's Harmanpreet Kaur, who currently captains the Indian women's team in all formats. Gill's appointment is a proud moment for Punjab cricket and a landmark in the journey of a prodigy who has risen steadily through the ranks. Former India cricketer Gurkeerat Mann, who has mentored and supported Shubman over the years, believes the right-hander was always destined for greatness. 'It is a matter of great pride for everyone who has been part of Shubman's journey. He has excelled at every level — from India U-19 to the senior team. The fact that someone from Punjab is now leading the national team makes it even more special. His discipline and commitment have brought him here. Replacing a captain like Rohit Sharma is a massive responsibility, but I have no doubt on his ability,' said Gurkeerat, who has shared a long-standing bond with Shubman. A significant part of Gill's journey began with a bold decision made by his father, Lakhwinder Gill, an agriculturist from Jalalabad in Fazilka district. Determined to give his son the best opportunity to succeed, he moved the family to Mohali when Shubman was just seven. That shift gave Shubman access to better facilities and exposure, laying the foundation for his rapid rise. 'I first met Shubman and his father nearly 15 years ago during a Punjab Ranji Trophy camp. Even as a kid, he stood out with his talent and work ethic. His father's sacrifices were immense —without them, Shubman wouldn't be where he is today,' Gurkeerat added. The bond between the two cricketers has been instrumental in Gill's development. In fact, Shubman has often used Gurkeerat's bats during key matches for India. 'He's scored heavily using my bats, and now I borrow his. It's become a tradition,' laughed Gurkeerat, who now plays franchise leagues worldwide and is also a Punjabi commentator in the IPL. Shubman's leadership skills have also drawn praise, particularly during his stint with the Gujarat Titans in the IPL. Often seen practising at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali with Gurkeerat and occasionally with former India star Yuvraj Singh, Shubman has stayed close to his roots. His cricketing journey took off under the mentorship of Rahul Dravid during the U-19 World Cup in 2018, where Gill was named player of the tournament as India lifted the title in New Zealand. He made his Ranji Trophy and IPL debuts shortly after, eventually making it to the senior Indian side. Since then, he has scored runs across all formats with consistency and flair. Harvinder Singh, former India pacer and now the cricket director at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA), sees shades of MS Dhoni in Gill's leadership style. 'Shubman has always had a calm mind and the ability to read conditions well. He reminds me a bit of Dhoni in how composed and analytical he is. He was different even as a young cricketer,' said Harvinder, who was the bowling coach when Shubman debuted in first-class cricket. PCA vice-president PMS Banga also lauded Gill's appointment: 'It's a proud moment for Punjab cricket. This sends a strong message to young players across the state—they now have a Test captain to look up to.'
