Gill Emphasizes Importance of 20 Wickets for Test Victory

LEEDS: Shubman Gill, the newly appointed captain of India, stated on Thursday that the team is considering deploying four genuine fast bowlers to increase their chances of securing 20 wickets in the upcoming five-match Test series against England, which is set to begin on Friday.

Gill, who will be leading India for the first time as a permanent captain, reaffirmed the team’s readiness to include four lower-order batsmen to achieve the crucial 20-wicket target, which he considers necessary for winning a Test match.

“Yes, definitely,” Gill responded to the query. “You cannot secure a Test victory without claiming 20 wickets, regardless of your run total. Consequently, this has been a primary topic of discussion for us, specifically, our strategy for capturing 20 wickets.

“And there may arise a scenario where we opt for predominantly pure batsmen, potentially incorporating a bowling all-rounder alongside three to four leading fast bowlers or specialist bowlers.”

Shubman Gill also addressed the perception of added pressure associated with captaincy, asserting that he intends to perform purely as a batter when at the crease.

“To be frank, when I step out to bat, my intention is simply to play as a batsman. I prefer not to dwell on my role as the team’s captain, as I believe it can create undue pressure,” Gill explained.

“Each time I go out there, my aim is to perform as a batsman, dominate the opposition, and strive to be the most impactful batsman in the series. That is my focus.”