India vs England 2025: Shubman Gill is going to be a great leader, says India’s World Cup-winning coach

Team India will begin a new chapter in their Test history with young batter Shubman Gill taking over from Rohit Sharma as the new captain in the longest format of the game. Gill will lead India out in the first Test of the five-match series against England starting at Headingley in Leeds from Friday.

India’s Test skipper Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from the format last month and it was followed by the retirement of former captain Virat Kohli. Gill now has to fill the big shoes of Kohli at the No. 4 position in the Test lineup and additionally take charge of the Indian team.

Shubman Gill has a good brain for game: Gary Kirsten

Ahead of the first Test of India’s tour of England, former India coach Gary Kirsten spoke to JioHotstar about Shubman Gill and his role as captain in the Test series against England. Former South Africa opener was the head coach of Team India when they won the 2011 ODI World Cup under the captaincy of MS Dhoni.

“I think Shubman is going to be a great leader. He’s a smart cricketer—he’s got a good brain for the game and understands his game. He’s very talented and a nice human being, which I think is really important. When you come into these leadership positions, you’re going to be put under pressure, and your leadership will be tested,” Kirsten to JioHotstar.

“For any young leader, your ability to learn how to lead, improve, and grow is constantly under scrutiny. But I believe he has all the raw materials to become a really good leader. The one thing I really like about Shubman is that he walks the talk. He’s very organized, very diligent with his training and preparation, and that sets a great example for other players. I think he’s primed to take on the international stage by storm,” former Gujarat Titans head coach added.

Shubman Gill has huge shoes to fill: Matthew Hayden

Ahead of the first Test of India’s tour of England, JioStar expert and former Australia opener Matthew Hayden also spoke to JioHotstar about new India Test skipper Gill.

“Shubman has huge shoes to fill. He’ll have to find his footing in Test match cricket. There’s a very small sample size when it comes to his experience here in England. But it takes time to build a legacy and become a legend. Virat Kohli, for instance, is India’s most successful Test captain in terms of win percentage, so it’s not fair to compare,” Hayden told JioHotstar.

“Shubman is a very good player, and he’s got all the attributes needed to succeed in English conditions. We’ve already had a glimpse of his leadership across other teams, and there’s no doubt he has the potential to grow into the role,” he added.