England vs India: Shubman Gill plays with a dead bat ahead of first series as India captain

Perhaps, Gill was simply settling into this highly-scrutinised role. Or maybe, it was by design to keep all the cards close to the chest ahead of India’s biggest red-ball series of the year. For, seated next to him, head coach Gautam Gambhir remained equally guarded.

India leave for England on the back of two consecutive Test series defeats, against New Zealand at home and Australia away. It feels like a lifetime since the twin debacles and the ICC Champions Trophy triumph in the interim may have healed some of the pain. But Gambhir acknowledged the pressure ahead of the first Test in Leeds starting on June 20.

How will #TeamIndia fill the big shoes of @imVkohli & @ImRo45 in the Tests vs England?

New captain @ShubmanGill & head coach @GautamGambhir share their thoughts.

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“I am always under pressure. I was under pressure after losing to New Zealand and Australia, I was under pressure after winning the Champions Trophy,” Gambhir said. “You want results in every match as a coach. It is not about winning or losing. The pressure is always there.”

This will be India’s first Test series after the retirements of former captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, as well as ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. And with an unfit Mohammed Shami omitted, India’s 18-man squad looks thin on experience. Sai Sudharsan, Arshdeep Singh and Abhimanyu Easwaran are yet to play a Test while Karun Nair, Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna are returning to the side after long layoffs.

It might feel like the start of a new era, under a new captain. But Gambhir didn’t see it like that. The players were in a ‘good space’, he said.

“(But) It really doesn’t matter if it is a clean slate or not. What’s important is that we have a talented squad who are willing to go out there, express themselves and do something special.”

The Bumrah conundrum

The first big puzzle Gill and Gambhir will have to solve is the utilisation of Bumrah. The pace spearhead will miss at least one of the five Tests due to workload management, to avoid a repeat of the back injury suffered in Australia.

Gambhir said the team hasn’t yet decided which matches Bumrah will play. “We are going to have a discussion with him and depending on the series as well. A lot will depend on the results of matches, where the series is heading. That is something which I am sure he (Bumrah) is very well aware of as well,” he said.

The X-Factor! 👊🏻

Will @Jaspritbumrah93 be the deciding factor in #TeamIndia’s quest to conquer England after 18 years? 👀#ENGvIND | 1st Test starts 20th June, 2:30 PM, Streaming On JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/o799Va8Mad

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Mohammed Siraj is expected to lead the bowling attack in Bumrah’s absence, like he did in Australia. Apart from him, Gill will have Krishna, Akash Deep and Arshdeep as the other pace-bowling specialists with all-rounders Nitish Reddy and Thakur too as options.

“I think we have picked enough pace battery and a lot of fast bowlers are in a great space to be able to win us Test matches from any situation or any position,” Gill said. “Obviously, when you have someone like Jasprit Bumrah, depending on how many matches he would play, whenever he would come back and play a match for us, it would be a great sight for us. But I think we have a great mix of bowlers who can get the job done for the team.”

Gambhir was quick to back his captain.

“I said it before the Champions Trophy (which Bumrah didn’t play) as well, it will give someone the opportunity to put his hand up and we have got enough talent there. I know that he (Bumrah) is quality but we have got enough quality apart from him as well in the squad.”

The captain and coach chose not to give away much on the batting order and team combinations either, saying they’d study the conditions in England before taking those calls.

‘Want to make everyone feel secure’

Gill did give some insights, though. He hinted that he’ll take a cue from Rohit’s captaincy model, wherein the focus was on ‘clear communication’.

A determined captain! 🔥😎

Will leading #TeamIndia fuel @ShubmanGill’s form in English conditions? 👀#ENGvIND | 1st Test starts 20th June, 2:30 PM, Streaming On JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/AGtBKgSl2i

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“There is no particular style. With time and experience, my personal style will flourish,” he admitted candidly. At the same time, the 25-year-old — India’s youngest Test captain after Sachin Tendulkar — wanted to make everyone feel ‘secure’.

“I prefer to have communication with the players regarding their strengths and weaknesses, and help them out. It’s important for the captain to make sure players feel secure,” Gill said.

He wouldn’t give away much when asked specifically about the England tour, which he said would be like ‘any other series’ in terms of pressure.

“As such, there is no different pressure. All the players and teams are used to how to play in pressure situations and how to win,” he said.