AB de Villiers issues humungous warning to Shubman Gill after India captaincy appointment
Published - 26 May 2025, 12:02 PM | Updated - 26 May 2025, 04:03 PM
Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers warned India’s new Test skipper Shubman Gill about the challenges the young, inexperienced Indian side will face in England.
De Villiers was pleased with India’s pace attack, but he stated that the batters will have to perform consistently on the tour, not just in one Test match.
AB de Villiers’ on marathon tour for India
AB de Villiers feels that this will be a marathon tour for the Indian team, as the tour will begin with A-team games on May 30 and the Test series will be played through August 4.
De Villiers stated that this Indian team is slightly inexperienced but has enough talent to challenge England in their home conditions. The only concern of De Villiers is the length of the tour, as it’s a five-Test match series.
“Yes, they are young and inexperienced, but I see more than enough talent there to stand up against England. What I’m worried about is that it’s five Test matches, it’s a marathon,” explained de Villiers. “You can have a good Test match, but in the back of your mind you know it’s 2-3 months, you can’t just rock up for one Test match. It’s a lot of cricket, a lot of challenges, you have to have sound technique and be relaxed and quiet, but sticking to your guns.”
Former Proteas cricketer advised Gill and co. to have in mind that the tour is 2-3 months long and they can’t celebrate after performing in one Test match.
AB de Villiers lauds India’s pace attack
AB de Villiers termed the India vs England series equivalent to the Ashes. The Indian team is going through a rebuilding phase, and the youngsters will be tested in the England tour.
AB was pleased with India’s pace attack that has been picked for the England tour. The selectors have picked six pacers and three multi-dimensional spinners.
“The bowling attack I’m very happy with. Bumrah, Siraj, Krishna, Shardul has played well in Tests before and we know he can hold the bat and bowl well,” ABD stated.
Jasprit Bumrah will be leading the pace attack and Mohammed SIraj, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Shardul Thakur and Akash Deep will give support to Bumrah in the bowling friendly conditions.
“Akash Deep and Arshdeep, it’s a wonderful bowling lineup, and why I put emphasis on that, you need to take your ten wickets in Test match cricket, especially in England, where their bowlers know exactly what they’re doing,” ABD added.
India’s spin attack
For the English conditions, India picked only three spinners, of which two are all-rounders, who can bat down the order.
Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja are the two all-round spinners for the England tour. Kuldeep Yadav is the only specialist spinner in the Indian team for the tour.
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India National Cricket Team England National Cricket Team India vs England England vs India AB de Villiers Shubman Gill Jasprit Bumrah Akash Deep Prasidh Krishna Arshdeep Singh Kuldeep Yadav Ravindra Jadeja Washington Sundar
