India is set to turn a new page in Test cricket as Shubman Gill steps in as the youngest captain of the red-ball side, taking charge of a team suddenly without some of its longstanding batting pillars – Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma – who both called time on their Test careers last month.Ahead of Gill’s first assignment in the high-stakes series against England, which is underway at Headingley, former India cricketer Yograj Singh has urged the young leader to channel the spirit of Kapil Dev’s inspirational leadership from India’s historic 1983 World Cup triumph.“Shubman has to lead from the front,” Yograj told ANI, making no effort to conceal his expectations from the new skipper. “A few days ago, I was talking to Yuvraj Singh about Abhishek (Sharma) and Shubman Gill. Yuvraj said he would have to lead from the front. As Shubman Gill goes out to bat, he has to stay at the crease for the maximum time. When a captain leads from the front, and scores runs, it’s important for Shubman to set a target of 100, 200 or 300. He has to lead from the front. He also has to take everyone forward together, just like Kapil Dev did in the 1983 World Cup. I believe India will win the series,” he said.
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India’s fresh-look Test squad not only lacks its batting stalwarts but will also have to cope without off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who bowed out of international cricket midway through the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. The team now rests its hopes on a youthful core with a diverse skill set to fill the vacuum left by its seasoned performers.
However, the toss did not favour Gill on his debut as Test captain, with England skipper Ben Stokes opting to bowl first — a move in line with the Headingley tradition of exploiting early conditions.As India embarks on its first full-fledged Test series in this new era, the onus will be on Gill not just to accumulate big runs, but to inspire and unite a team ib transition — a task Yograj Singh believes is well within the youngster’s grasp if he bats long, leads boldly, and channels the same belief that propelled Kapil Dev’s men to World Cup immortality four decades ago.
