Gill praises Rohit Sharma ahead of Test debut

Leeds

India’s new Test captain Shubman Gill expressed deep admiration for Rohit Sharma’s leadership, saying he hopes to adopt a similar style as he prepares to lead India in the upcoming England Test series starting June 20 at Headingley.

Gill, 25, is stepping into leadership during a critical transition period. With Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin having retired from Tests, Gill becomes the face of a younger squad. Despite an average of 35.05 in 32 Tests, Gill is focused on shaping a healthy team culture.

Praising Rohit’s clarity and relaxed environment, Gill said, “Even if he’s swearing at you, you won’t take it to heart. It’s from a team perspective.” He also praised Virat Kohli’s passionate and proactive style, which he plans to emulate selectively.

Gill admitted his captaincy appointment was unexpected and said his childhood dream was simply to play for India, not lead it. Despite limited captaincy experience, he guided Gujarat Titans to the IPL playoffs in 2025 after a poor 2024 season.

He credits selectors and coach Gautam Gambhir for giving him freedom and backing. “They just want me to express myself. There’s no pressure from them,” Gill added.

With the squad’s average age now around 26, Gill sees a chance to build a long-term team culture. While he may move down to No. 4 in the batting order, he’s keeping options open ahead of the India vs India A warm-up game.

The five-Test series will continue in Birmingham, Lord’s, Manchester, and The Oval after the opener at Headingley.