NEW DELHI: Former England spinner Monty Panesar believes that the upcoming five-match Test series in England will be a major test of Gautam Gambhir’s credentials as a red-ball coach. According to Panesar, more than the new Test captain Shubman Gill, it is Gambhir who will be in the spotlight when the high-stakes series gets underway. The first Test begins on June 20 at Headingley Stadium in Leeds.Excerpts…India’s Test squad appears relatively inexperienced on paper. Do you think this young Shubman Gill-led side has what it takes to script history in England?This Indian team has a few youngsters who’ve had the opportunity to play county cricket. Because of that, they need to utilise that experience when facing England and really back themselves to believe they can take on England. Hopefully, England will produce pitches that are relatively flat. If that’s the case, I think it’ll be an even contest. But even if the pitches have grass, I believe India still have the bowling attack to exploit those conditions. The key, though, will lie with both the batters and bowlers. Can they translate their county cricket experience into performances at the Test level?English conditions are known to Test players in unique ways. What challenges do you foresee for this Indian team in the upcoming series?For the Indian batters, the big challenge will come when it’s overcast. In those conditions, the air cools down, the ball starts to swing more and seams a bit extra off the surface. There’s more zip off the pitch in those moments, and India must avoid losing wickets in clusters. They’ll need to hang in there, focus on survival, and once they weather the storm and tire out a couple of bowlers, it will get easier. One bad session could take them out of the game.Which Indian players do you think have the potential to be game-changers in this five-match series?I think Sai Sudharsan is one of those players who could become the breakout star of this tour. He’s done well for Surrey and has the temperament to challenge England’s bowlers. So for me, Sai Sudharsan could become the next superstar of Indian cricket. Also, I think it’s a big tour for Shardul Thakur. Overseas, he gives India an option as a second-change bowler who can take wickets and be economical. He naturally pitches it up, so I see this being an important tour for him as well.
How big of a role do you see Kuldeep Yadav playing in the series? Can he feature in all five Tests given the English conditions?I think they’ll stick with Ravindra Jadeja, relying on his experience. England’s batters may prefer to face the relatively inexperienced Kuldeep Yadav. But if India stack their XI with all-rounders, Kuldeep could slot in as the second spinner and provide that X-factor. So yes, they could go with Jadeja at six, Shardul or Nitish Reddy at seven, and that would open a spot for Kuldeep. With Shubman Gill stepping into the role of Test captain after Rohit Sharma’s retirement, all eyes will also be on coach Gautam Gambhir. Do you feel this series might end up being more about Gambhir’s impact than Gill’s leadership?Gautam Gambhir clearly wants to build a young team that follows his methods. He’s a hard taskmaster and disciplinarian. This is a tour where Gambhir can shape these players without the influence or resistance of senior stars. If India win, it’ll be largely seen as the beginning of a new era under Gambhir. If Gambhir leads this young Indian side to a series win in England, we’ll begin mentioning him alongside the best coaches—like Andy Flower, Ricky Ponting, and Stephen Fleming.
What’s your assessment of England’s ‘Bazball’ approach going into this series? Do you think it will work against this Indian side?As for Bazball, I think it could be a dangerous strategy. Indian bowlers have too much experience and would love for England batters to come hard, score at six or seven an over, and get bowled out for 200–220 in 40–50 overs. That would put India in control. So I expect England to be a bit more cautious. If they go all guns blazing from the start, it could backfire.England are backing young spinner Shoaib Bashir in this series. But do you think his inconsistency and tendency to leak runs could end up hurting their chances?Regarding Shoaib Bashir, his natural delivery drifts in because of his high-arm action. His challenge will be to bowl from wider of the crease and target off stump. If he sticks to middle-and-leg lines, Indian batters will play him comfortably. If he bowls outside off and threatens both edges, then he becomes a threat. If he attacks only the inside edge, Indian batters will take him apart.Do you think England’s current pace attack lacks the edge and aura that James Anderson and Stuart Broad once brought to the team?I do feel England are missing an X-factor. Gus Atkinson is out injured. Mark Wood isn’t available either — he was their go-to match-winner. Jamie Overton hasn’t played since 2022. Chris Woakes is returning from injury. Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse are promising bowlers but are inexperienced.KL Rahul will be the most experienced batter in this Indian side, while Karun Nair is making a comeback after eight years. How crucial will their contributions be in shaping India’s performance?It’s a big tour for Karun Nair. He needs to nail down that No. 3 or No. 4 slot and make it his own. If he has a good tour, he could cement his place for the next five years. He has the talent, temperament, and technique. It’s about belief now. I hope he doesn’t go into a shell because it’s a Test arena. He needs to express himself, enjoy the stage, and show what he’s capable of. KL Rahul, on the other hand, will be the anchor. He’s the one who steadies the ship when India are in trouble. He can bat long hours and allows others to play their natural aggressive game. He’s a bit like Pujara in that sense.What would be your pick for India’s top five in the first Test at Headingley?My top five for the first Test would be: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Karun Nair, and Sai Sudharsan.What’s your overall prediction for the series?If it’s green pitches, England might have a slight advantage. If the surfaces are flat, I think India have a great chance to win. And I suspect the ECB would want the matches to stretch into Day 4 and 5—for the spectacle of the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy. That could work in India’s favour.
