Big test pinned on batting success

Gill's success in England on his captaincy debut will depend on how he carries team as batter

- Sanjeev K Samyal

MUMBAI: Shubman Gill has the makings of a good Test captain — highly rated as a batter, he is composed, confident and firm in his calls. He also has enough experience of international cricket. If he clicks, he will become the face of Indian cricket and a fine ambassador for the game. Importantly, like Virat Kohli, he too values Test cricket.

The 25-year-old does look ready in most aspects. While there is massive optimism over his selection to the most high-profile job in Indian cricket, a big test awaits him straightaway.

The key concern is over his batting. What if he doesn't get runs in English conditions? After all, he is yet to prove himself in England. And the best way to get the team's backing is by infusing confidence that the captain will deliver with the bat. In three Tests in England, Gill's highest score is 28 at an average of 14.67. Two of those games were World Test Championship finals that India lost to New Zealand and Australia.

Though pace holds no fear for him, as he showed in his debut series in Australia in 2020-21 that India won, the latest series there didn't go well. He averaged 18.60 in three Tests, with a highest score of 31. Overall, the Punjab batter has played 32 Tests, scoring 1,893 runs at a modest average of 35 with five hundreds and seven fifties.

Test of technique For a captain to gain authority in the dressing room, there is nothing better than leading by example. The first two Tests thus will be crucial. Having runs under the belt will help ease into the role quickly.