“There will be pressure”: Ajit Agkar’s honest entry for India’s new Test Captain Shubman Gill

The transition was a buzzword as the chairman of the election, Ajit Aggarkar talked about the challenges that Shubman Gill would face Gill as India’s newest Test captain, but insisted on what the batting star had to reveal the “difficult” role. Agkar announced the 18-member squad, with Gill deputy for five-protest rubber starting from June 20 in Rishabh Pant Leeds. This will be the country’s first test assignment, which will be after retirement from the format of Stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

“, Whether it is a hard experience, or, we have a really good chain, the way you see it, it’s going to be difficult and the experience can only help move forward,” the front can help the press conference to announce the squad.

He said, “At the moment, what we are watching … is franchise cricket, you can see that he is missing the role. It is going to be very difficult. But those challenges you are playing international cricket,” he said.

While both Kohli and Rohit pulled the plug in the leading days for the announcement of the squad, veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin called Midway through a tour of Australia last year. Seemar Mohammed Shami, however, was not chosen due to his fitness issues.

Agarkar expressed confidence that 25 -year -old Gill is about to take the Indian test side forward.

“This is a big task; it is a big infection. Your two big players are retiring. But we all believe that he is a boy taking us forward and hope, over time, it proves. He is a terrible player and we are all expecting so much,” said “Agkar said.

“This is a massive transition. Rohit (was) was around for some time. Earlier, was around Virat (Tha). It is the beginning of a new cycle and the experience can only help.” Agarkar said that Gill is for a long race as a leader and his selection committee has full confidence in his ability to increase the challenge.

He said, “You don’t choose a captain for one or two tourism. You want to try and invest in something that is going to help us move forward. We were hoping that this is the right call. We have seen some progress during the last year,” he said.

“There is no doubt that it is going to be as difficult as a five-match series in England (in the captaincy job). Perhaps he will have to learn a little at work, but we are very confident of what he has to offer and that’s why we have chosen him,” he explained.

“The captaincy can motivate him to improve”

The old saying is that the captains are expected to lead from the front and Gill who had part of success and failures in Test cricket will also be expected to do so. It is more than 35 average after 32 tests.

Agarkar said that he does not want to read much in Gill’s figures till now.

He said, “Everyone is going to test in England. I don’t think any batsman is going to feel at home, as it was in Australia. These are difficult places to visit. But we believe that he got the goods,” he said.

“As far as his batting is concerned, at least, no real issue from our side. Hopefully, he can do better as only a captain.” Agrakar said that captaincy may be both “burden” or “positively”, but he expects the role of inspiring Gill.

“You can see it as a burden (or), you can see it positively that it can motivate him to improve,” he said.

“He is now around all formats for two or three years, so that the experience, I am sure he can fall back,” said Agarkar.

And for the time he would feel more challenging than normal, Agkar said, Gill will always help to start with head coach Gautam Gambhir.

“There are people around the team. The coach is there to help him.

“And there will be pressure, there is no doubt. There will be no one away from it.”

“Pant can help Gill with your experience”

Jasprit Bumrah was an option for captaincy when Rohit was not available to lead in Australia, but for Agkar -led selection panel, Pant Gill was ideal deputy, once it became clear that Paper would not do all five tests in England.

“He has been one of the best batsmen in Test cricket in the last four-five years, I think. (He has played) 40-odd test, currently.

“(He) has got experience at this time. That is why he is Shubman’s deputy and can help him with all the experience she has received.

He said, “He is an incredible player. You are clearly watching those who can take the team forward in the next few years. At the moment, both of them are people who think we can do so,” he said.

(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is published by a syndicated feed.)