MUMBAI: Shubman Gill has been used to the limelight since his junior cricket days. However, as India's Test captain, he will not be prepared for the excitement he will have to handle. Having your first series in England is the only way to make it larger.

Every action Gill takes in the five-Test series that begins on Friday will be closely examined. It begins with which number he will bat at—three or four? The squad must get this exactly right because India needs their new captain to be at his best given the significance of his batting. Having runs under his belt will increase his confidence, earn him the respect of his teammates, and assist him in winning over the locker room.

Gill has moved to No. 3 after beginning his Test career as an opener, but there is conjecture over whether the Punjab batter should assume the position now that Virat Kohli, who had long held No. 4, has retired.

Although the Indian team management has not yet confirmed the No. 4 for the opening Test in Leeds, it may not be smart to switch Gill. One more challenge is best avoided for someone who already has so much on his plate. His style of play is better suited to No. 3. He is a naturally aggressive player, resembling Ricky Ponting, who had a commanding attitude and thrived at No. 3. Gill has a better understanding of the demands of the No. 3 position after batting there in 30 of his 59 innings and scoring 1,019 runs at a strike rate of 61.53.

"There's going to be a lot of responsibility. It's not simple. It's going to be challenging: a 5-Test series right away. He should concentrate on his hitting first. "Captaincy will come easy if he scores runs," says Kiran More, former India chief selector and wicketkeeper.

LEADERSHIP ACUMEN

The appointment of a new Test captain for India always generates excitement. Dilip Vengsarkar, the former captain of India and chief selector, called Gill's selection a courageous move in an interview with the official broadcaster in the lead-up to the series. Gary Kirsten, the former coach of India, who has collaborated with Gill at Gujarat Titans, also describes him as a pleasant individual. The former South Africa opener has always stated that being thoughtful is a prerequisite for being a good leader.

The fashionable batter receives compliments from everyone. He was chosen for the leadership position at a rather young age. It was simply a matter of when the time would be right. Ideal would have been to blood him in India, but chief selector Ajit Agarkar has had the confidence to put him straight into the hot seat.

What, then, are the traits that gave the BCCI selection committee assurance in his selection? "I'm a big fan of Gill. "I have reflected on that – his journey as a cricketer, when you see that grow and resonate with you, the one thing that stood out for me from Day 1 was his character,” says Abhishek Nayar, who has worked with Gill at Kolkata Knight Riders for a long time and was the India team assistant coach in chief coach Gautam Gambhir’s support staff.

"One of the most crucial qualities for a player is that he has the work ethic of a top cricketer." Although everyone is familiar with Gill the cricketer, few are aware of his moral principles. He is a motivated person who is always seeking to improve. "He is as driven as the topmost cricketers to be the best in the world," Nayar says.

The selectors were persuaded of Gill's leadership skills by his advancement at GT. IPL captaincy is a high-pressure role, and Gill has performed well throughout the last two seasons, despite the fact that it is in a different format. Mithun Manhas, who served as GT's assistant coach during their first three seasons, has witnessed Gill's development.

According to Manhas, Gill's composed demeanor does not indicate submissiveness.

"He's level-headed." He is authoritative, and he won't be weighed down by anything happening around Ashish Nehra, the GT coach. Ashish will listen if he has anything to say, and Gill will express whatever is on his mind as well. "That confidence is there," says the former captain of the Delhi Ranji team.

"The best thing is that, as a captain, he talks to his players individually, which is really crucial." He is open and accessible to all of his players at any time.

However, Gill is still unproven in English conditions, and the BCCI's decision-makers are keeping their fingers crossed that their gamble on captaincy will pay off. He has competed in three Tests in England and has yet to score a half-century, although this will be his first complete season there.

"All I can say is, does he have what it takes to succeed there? He does so. "He has all the qualities; what comes next is his path, where he practices batting, etc.," Nayar adds.

The team's success is the final criterion by which a leader is evaluated. Having the wealthiest board in the world means that everything is offered on a plate, but there are additional requirements. Despite having the most dominating run in bilateral series, Kohli was unable to capture an ICC trophy and was succeeded by Rohit Sharma.

"The one thing that sets him apart is his desire to win championships. Nayar states, "As an individual, he wants to, and as a leader, I am sure he will be the same."

There was more encouragement to be patient with Gill's leadership.

"The selectors have made a fantastic choice; he should take it one Test at a time." You can't assess someone based on a single series, and you won't create a captain for just one series. You must be given ample opportunity to become a great captain.

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