Shubman Gill stands on the cusp of achieving a rare feat as he leads the Indian cricket team in a five-Test series against England, beginning at Headingley, Leeds on June 20, 2025. Only three Indian captains have managed to secure a Test series victory on English soil, making this a significant challenge and a golden opportunity for the young leader. With key players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin recently retired, Gill's captaincy marks the beginning of a new era for Indian cricket.
The task ahead is undoubtedly daunting. Gill inherits the captaincy amid a generational transition, with India fielding a relatively inexperienced side in English conditions. However, Gill is embracing the challenge, drawing confidence from the "blueprint" set by his seniors over the past 5-10 years, emphasizing a belief that "we can win anywhere." He also recognizes a silver lining in the team's relative inexperience, suggesting that they carry less "baggage" compared to previous touring parties.
Historically, winning a Test series in England has been a tough nut to crack for India. Ajit Wadekar first achieved this in 1971, leading India to a 1-0 victory in a three-match series. Kapil Dev repeated the feat in 1986, with a dominant 2-0 win in a three-match series. Rahul Dravid was the last captain to achieve this milestone in 2007, securing a 1-0 victory.
Several prominent Indian captains, including Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli, have been unable to achieve a Test series win in England. Kohli, however, holds the record for the most Test wins as an Indian captain on English soil, with three victories.
Shubman Gill's captaincy record across all formats reveals a promising leader. He led India to a 4-1 victory in a T20I series against Zimbabwe in 2024. In the IPL, he captained Gujarat Titans in 27 matches, securing 14 wins. In first-class cricket, he has captained five matches, with one win, two losses, and two draws.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has advised Gill to "take your time," acknowledging the difficulty of captaining India in England. Shastri was impressed by Gill's calm and tactical maturity while captaining Gujarat Titans in the IPL. Gill himself has emphasized the importance of creating a positive and secure environment within the squad, believing that team culture directly impacts performance on the field.
As India embarks on this new chapter, the focus will be on Gill's leadership and how he molds a cohesive unit from a team brimming with potential. The series also marks the start of India's WTC cycle 2025-27. Gill is set to bat at No. 4, with Rishabh Pant as vice-captain at No. 5. The opening pair is likely to be KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, while Karun Nair could make a comeback at No. 3.
The pitches in England are expected to be batting-friendly, but the overhead conditions could still favor seam bowling. India's success will depend on how their batsmen adapt to these conditions and how their bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, can exploit any assistance from the pitches.
Whether Shubman Gill can etch his name alongside Wadekar, Kapil Dev, and Dravid remains to be seen. However, he carries the hopes of a nation as he aims to guide India to a Test series victory in England after an 18-year wait.
