Ravi Shastri blocks any move to sack Shubman Gill until 2027
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Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri has backed Indian youngster and Test captain Shubman Gill to deliver if the management keeps faith in him in the long run.
India are currently in England for a five-match series against the Three Lions. Youngster Shubman Gill has recently been appointed the Indian Test skipper just before the onset of the series in England. He replaced Rohit Sharma, who recently announced his retirement from the longest format of the game.
On the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri named Shubman Gill when asked about who he foresees as an Indian cricket legend in the next 10 years.
"I'll be disappointed if Gill doesn't go places. Languid, lazy elegance, and he's got a regal element of being regal out there when he's batting. If he can learn with exposure and adapt to conditions, I think that's the one name I can see," said Shastri to Wisden.
He's matured a lot - Ravi Shastri on Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill's debut match as the Indian skipper in Test cricket did not go as planned, losing the first game on their England tour despite a strong batting display. Gill, too, began his test captaincy stint on a positive note in the batting front, having scored his maiden hundred in the SENA countries.
Ravi Shastri backed the young Indian captain, saying that irrespective of the match results, he should be given at least three years to emerge as a staunch captain in the format.
"He's matured a lot. The way he handles the media, the way he talks at press conferences, at tosses—he's matured a lot. Let him be there for three years. Don't chop and change irrespective of what happens in the series. Stick with him for three years, and I think he will deliver for you," as regarded by the former Indian coach.
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Dropping a pile of catches on the field across the two innings, batting collapses from the lower order, and some inconsistent bowling cost India the first Test match.
Jasprit Bumrah could play the second test at Edgbaston
The visitors will be keen on bouncing back in the second test at Edgbaston. This will include strengthening the bowling department, as India have hinted towards the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav for the second Test.
There loomed a huge doubt over the participation of Jasprit Bumrah in the second Test, as he was not seen in the nets at Birmingham. The workload management was also brought into consideration; however, when Bumrah turned up for India's optional training session and bowled for at least half an hour in the nets, there was some clarity over his inclusion for the second Test.
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Shubman Gill's impact as a skipper in IPL 2025
Shubman Gill has been handed the Indian Test captaincy, and the youngster has made a huge impact in the IPL playing for the Gujarat Titans. Gill started leading the Gujarat Titans from IPL 2024, after Hardik Pandya was drafted off to the Mumbai Indians.
Gill might not have had a great season in 2024; however, he bounced back in the 18th season of the Indian Premier League. Titans were third on the points table with 9 wins in 14 matches in the league stage games.
Titans squared off against Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator and faced a defeat despite Sai Sudharsan's exceptional performance with the bat. This was Gill's best season as skipper of a team. He also had a great season with the bat, as he ended with the fourth-most runs in the season.
Also, Shubman Gill played a stunning 147-run innings on his debut Test as captain of the Indian side.
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Ravi Shastri Shubman Gill India National Cricket Team England National Cricket Team India vs England England vs India ICC World Test Championship
