Shubman Gill said that there is no pressure or expectations from head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar before he begins his responsibility as the new Indian Test team captain. Gill will be India’s 37th Test captain.
25-year-old Shubman Gill has taken over the reins of the Indian Test team after Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket. Talking to veteran cricketer Dinesh Karthik in an exclusive interview to Sky Sports, Gill said that although it is a big post, Gambhir and Agarkar have given him complete freedom to make his mark as a leader. Gill said that he has some expectations from himself, but there is no pressure on him from the coach and selector.
What did Shubman Gill say?
Gill said, “I have talked to Gauti bhai and Ajit bhai about this many times. They want me to express myself openly as a leader. They have clearly told me that ‘we have no expectations’. They are not expecting me to do anything that is not in my control. In this sense, I do not think there is any pressure or expectations from them. But yes, as a leader and a player, I definitely have some expectations from myself.”
Shubman Gill’s goal as Test captain
Gill said that apart from winning trophies and titles with the Indian team, his goal is to create a culture where players feel safe and happy. He said, “Trophies and titles are a different thing, but my real goal is to create a culture where every player feels safe and happy.
I know it will not be easy, especially when there is so much competition and we play so many matches, with different squads. But if I am able to do this, then this will be my biggest goal.” Gill’s first test as captain will be the England tour, which starts on June 20.
