India vs England: Ravi Shastri has an important advice for Shubman Gill

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has shared key words of wisdom with Shubman Gill, who is set to embark on a significant new chapter in his career as the captain of the Indian Test team. With India scheduled to play a five-match Test series in England over a span of 45 days, all eyes will be on the young batter as he takes on one of the most demanding leadership roles in world cricket. This will be Gill’s first time leading the side in red-ball cricket, with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant appointed as his vice-captain.

India vs England: Ravi Shastri gives captaincy tips to Shubman Gill

Shastri, known for his outspoken and motivational style, underlined the need for patience, calmness, and clarity while leading the side under testing English conditions. He advised Gill to stay composed and not rush into decisions, emphasizing that adapting to the pressures of captaincy takes time. The former coach reminded the young skipper that playing and leading in England is never an easy assignment due to the challenging conditions, high expectations, and constant scrutiny.

“I think, take your time. It’s not going to be easy. He's been asked to do a tough job, that is to captain India on a tour of England,” said former India head coach Ravi Shastri in a recent interview. 

Shubman Gill remains in the formative years of his Test career, having made his debut in December 2020. Since then, he has featured in 32 Test matches, scoring 1,893 runs at an average of 35.05. While his talent and temperament have been evident, he now faces his biggest challenge yet—leading the Indian Test team in English conditions, widely regarded as one of the most demanding environments in international cricket. For even the most experienced players, captaining a side in England presents unique challenges with its swing-friendly pitches, unpredictable weather, and relentless pressure.

What makes this task even more daunting for Gill is the absence of some of India’s most seasoned campaigners. Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Virat Kohli—pillars of the Indian Test side in recent years—will not feature in the squad for this five-match series. Their absence puts the spotlight firmly on Gill, who will be expected not only to anchor the batting lineup but also to lead a young, relatively inexperienced side with composure and clarity.

“It's never easy, but I think he will learn from this exposure. What I saw of him in the IPL with the Gujarat Titans, he seemed very composed and calm. He's got a good temperament. He's matured as an individual, he's got some young players around with him, and I think it's a learning curve as far as Shubman Gill goes,” Shastri added.

India and England are set to lock horns in the opening Test of a five-match series at Headingley, beginning on June 20. The highly anticipated contest not only kicks off an exciting battle between two traditional rivals but also marks the beginning of their journey in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle. With both teams aiming to start the new cycle on a strong note, the first Test promises to set the tone for what could be a closely fought series.

For India, this series carries added significance as they step into a new era under the leadership of Shubman Gill, with several senior players absent. England, on the other hand, will look to build on their aggressive 'Bazball' approach at home. The conditions at Headingley are expected to offer good pace and bounce, setting the stage for an intense red-ball showdown to kick off the WTC cycle.