Captaining India Different From Leading Franchise: Anil Kumble On Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill was recently appointed India's new Test captain, and his first assignment will be a five-match Test series in England. While Gill has done well as captain of Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), former India skipper Anil Kumble believes the pressure and responsibility of leading the country will be far different.

“I think captaincy for India is slightly different from captaining a franchise or any state side; it comes with its own responsibilities and pressures. But I’m sure Shubman will figure it out, and I think he is capable. They [India’s young team] are all capable — you’ve seen that with the kind of cricket they play and the brand of cricket they represent,” Kumble said in a chat organised by JioStar, Cricket Australia, and the Australian Government.

While it will be different for the fans to adjust to the fact that Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin will not be part of the tour, Kumble believes that it is bound to happen in a team that is in transition.

“Transition is bound to happen, and with three pillars of Indian cricket not available, it’s going to be different, for us as fans too—when the Indian team takes the field in the first Test and those three names aren’t there. That’s something I’m sure the dressing room will get used to,” he added.

The first Test of the Gill era will begin on June 20 at Headingley.