Shubman Gill Reflects on Kohli and Rohit's Leadership Ahead of England Test Series

Shubman Gill's Insights on Leadership

As India prepares for a five-match Test series against England, newly appointed Test captain Shubman Gill has shared his reflections on the leadership styles of former stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma following their retirements from Test cricket.

Rohit Sharma announced his retirement on May 7, concluding a remarkable 11-year career that included 67 Tests. His retirement comes just before the England tour, which marks the beginning of India's ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle starting June 20.

On May 12, Virat Kohli's retirement announcement took the cricketing world by surprise, occurring over a month prior to the eagerly awaited Test series against England.

Rohit Sharma: A Tactical Leader

In an interview with Sky Sports Cricket, Gill praised Rohit Sharma's aggressive tactical approach as a captain. He noted, "Rohit bhai is very aggressive in terms of his tactics. He communicates clearly what he expects from the players before, during, and after matches."

Gill emphasized the supportive environment Rohit fosters, stating, "Even if Rohit bhai is tough on you, it’s not personal. That’s just his nature, and it’s a valuable trait to have."

Virat Kohli: A Proactive Strategist

Reflecting on Kohli's captaincy, Gill remarked, "When I played under Virat bhai, his proactive approach during matches, whether it was field placements or strategies, was something I admired and learned from. He was quick to adapt if a plan wasn’t working, effectively communicating with bowlers about what was needed."

Upcoming England Tour: A New Chapter

The India tour of England is scheduled from June to August 2025, with matches set to take place at various iconic venues including Headingley, Edgbaston, Lord's, Old Trafford, and The Oval.

This series marks a significant transition for Indian Test cricket as they embark on a new journey without the legendary Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Shubman Gill, the youngest Test captain for India, is now at the helm, aiming to lead the team to success and contend for the World Test Championship title.

India's Test Squad for the England Series

India's Test squad includes: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.