Ahead of the first Test against England starting June 20 at Headingley, Leeds, Indian batter Shubman Gill shared insights from conversations with senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, both of whom are absent from the current series. S
peaking at a pre-match press conference, Gill said the duo offered valuable advice during the IPL 2025.
“I met both men during the IPL. They shared their experiences in England and warned us about the challenges we might face here,” Gill said.
Reflecting on India’s previous home series win over England, Gill added,
“The 4-1 scoreline didn’t reflect how close the matches were. Many key players were missing even then. If we replicate that team effort here, it will be key.”
With Kohli and Rohit out, India’s top-order will see significant reshuffling. Gill confirmed he will bat at No. 4, stepping into Kohli’s role. Meanwhile, Karun Nair is in contention to bat at No. 3, marking a comeback to the Test side.
Young talents will also get their chance. Yashasvi Jaiswal is set to open the innings with Test debutant Sai Sudharsan, forming a fresh combination at the top.
Only Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant remain from the previous leadership era, making this series a litmus test for India’s emerging generation.
