Shastri’s Counsel to Gill Ahead of England Test Series

As Shubman Gill prepares to lead India in the upcoming five-match Test series against England, starting June 20 at Headingley, former India head coach Ravi Shastri has shared some essential advice.

Speaking on The ICC Review, Shastri underscored the significance of maintaining composure and mental fortitude, especially when undertaking such a demanding leadership role in international cricket.

“Take your time. It’s a challenging task. He’s been entrusted with the responsibility of captaining India on a tour of England,” Shastri stated.

This series is a critical juncture in Gill’s career. At 25, he is relatively early in his Test career, having accumulated 1,893 runs at an average of 35.05 in 32 matches since his debut in December 2020.

With key senior players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin absent from the squad, the spotlight will be firmly on Gill’s leadership capabilities.

India’s last Test series victory in England was in 2007, which adds to the pressure on the young captain to achieve favorable outcomes in the seamer-friendly English pitches, often regarded as the ultimate challenge for any visiting team.

However, Shastri remains optimistic about Gill’s potential. He highlighted Gill’s recent captaincy experience with the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025 as proof of his increasing maturity.

“It’s always a difficult task, but I believe he will benefit from this experience. From what I observed during his time with the Gujarat Titans in the IPL, he appeared very composed and level-headed. He possesses a strong temperament. He has matured as an individual, is surrounded by young players, and I think Shubman Gill will view this as a valuable learning opportunity,” he added.

Notably, this marks Gill’s first time captaining India in Test cricket, with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant serving as his deputy.

The initial Test at Headingley will also signify the commencement of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle for both competing nations.

Schedule for India’s tour of England 2025: