Take your time: Shubman Gill gets advice from Ravi Shastri ahead of captaincy bow
Ravi Shastri offered some key advice to Shubman Gill ahead of his first game as the captain of the Indian Test team. Gill takes over the role after Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket ahead of the tour of England and will also be batting at No.4 in the first Test at Headingley. Speaking on the latest episode of the ICC Review, Shastri said that patience and composure will be key for the new India Test captain in his first assignment. The former India coach admitted that it won’t be easy for Gill as it will be a tough job for the 25-year-old. “I think, take your time,” Shastri said, offering his initial guidance to the 25-year-old Gill. “It’s not going to be easy. He’s been asked to do a tough job, that is to captain India on a tour of England.” Gill is still finding his foot in the longest format of the game, having scored 1893 runs in 32 matches at an average of 35.05, since making his debut in 2020. Shastri feels that Gill will learn from the exposure during the England tour. Shastri said that Gill was very calm and composed during his time as captain of the Gujarat Titans during the IPL 2025 season and feels the 25-year-old has got a good temperament. “It’s never easy, but I think he will learn from this exposure. “What I saw of him in the IPL with the Gujarat Titans, he seemed very composed and calm. He’s got a good temperament.” ‘Gill is matured as an individual’ Shastri was impressed with Gill’s outing as GT skipper during the IPL 2025 season. The former India coach said that the 25-year-old is mature as an individual and will have some young players around him during the tour. “He’s matured as an individual, he’s got some young players around with him, and I think it’s a learning curve as far as Shubman Gill goes,” said Shastri. India will take on England in the first Test at Headingley, starting from June 20. Published On: Jun 19, 2025