Gilling across formats: Ex-player reflects on Shubman's 'biggest challenge' - calls it 'mentally demanding'

Former cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara believes Indian men's Test and ODI team captain Shubman Gill’s biggest test as an all-format cricketer will be his ability to shift between formats quickly. The former India batter, however, said the young skipper has the maturity to handle the challenge.Gill recently led India in the ODI series in Australia, played under Suryakumar Yadav in the T20s, and has now returned home for the two-Test series against South Africa starting Friday in Kolkata."Someone like Shubman, who is still a young player, doesn’t really have a heavy physical workload. But mentally, it can be challenging," Pujara said during the Media Day ahead of the first Test against the Proteas."He was recently in Australia leading the Indian one-day squad, then he played T20s, and now he suddenly has to shift from white-ball to red-ball cricket, not in Australia, but in India, where the conditions are completely different," Pujata said."His biggest challenge will be adjusting to different formats as quickly as possible. In Test cricket, you need temperament, patience and you also need to change your game plan according to the format and to do that very quickly is always challenging for any top class player."Pujara said Gill’s recent experience as captain and India’s form in Test cricket will help him deal with the transition."But someone like him, who is young, maturing quickly, and already leading the team well, I’m sure will respond positively.

The Indian Test team’s recent form will also help him; they did exceptionally well in the West Indies and before that in England."Shubman, as captain, will gain confidence from that. And they’re playing South Africa, who recently won the World Test Championship and remain a top side. It will be a competitive series, and I’m sure Shubman is looking forward to the challenge," he added.India will face South Africa in a two-Test series beginning November 14 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The second Test will be held at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati. The tour will also include three ODIs and five T20Is starting November 30.