Five weeks ago, Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket, creating a leadership gap before India’s first task in the new World Test Championship cycle: a five-Test tour of England. Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant were the names that came to mind, along with the seasoned KL Rahul as a long shot. Jasprit Bumrah would have been the obvious choice if it hadn't been for the necessity to monitor his workload.

In their collective wisdom, the selection committee headed by Ajit Agarkar, which most likely included advice from head coach Gautam Gambhir, selected the 25-year-old Gill to lead the club. The vision was long-term; Gill has been a crucial member of the Test squad since December 2020, despite his youth. Although he lacked strong leadership qualities at the first-class level, he led the Gujarat Titans for two seasons in the Indian Premier League. Although his team did not reach the playoffs, the right-hand batter impressed last season with his creativity, composure, and imagination, despite the fact that the first one was not a resounding success.

Once his side of the leadership pendulum settled, it ought to have been that way. The boy from Fazilka, Punjab, faces enormous challenges as it is. To begin with, he needs to rediscover his scoring ability away from the subcontinent, where he has only recorded a top score of 36 in his last 18 Test innings. Furthermore, given India's loss of significant experience due to the retirements of R. Ashwin, Rohit, and eventually Virat Kohli within a five-month span, he must also motivate his young students to prepare mentally for battle.

Gill has found himself in hot water through no fault of his own, even before he has stepped out for the toss as India’s Test captain for the first time. For the past few weeks, keyboard warriors occupying the social media arena have made a coordinated effort to attack the young captain, with their vitriol reaching its highest point in the last few hours because of the inclusion of the word "Prince" on his bat sticker.

A recent addition is Prince on Shubman Gill's MRF bat.

Gill obtained a new bat sponsor after the league stage of the Champions Trophy in Dubai in early March. Gill has been signed by the same business that previously backed Sachin Tendulkar, Steve Waugh, Brian Lara, AB de Villiers, and Kohli. Gill would have been overjoyed to be lumped in with these champions, but 'Prince' emblazoned on the MRF sticker has given ammunition to those who enjoy seeing arrogance and ego, even when these traits are glaringly absent.

Gill is a friendly and polite young man who has been given one of the most challenging responsibilities in any field in India. He has shown some signs of being a prima donna. 'Champion,' 'Genius,' 'Master,' and 'Legend' have enhanced MRF stickers at different points in the past. 'Prince' is just the most recent entry in that line, and it might be a playful play on the name Gill, which has been linked with the same six letters for a few years. Any way you look at it, suggesting that is a sign of Gill's high opinion of himself is odiously overreaching.

His critics are not required to change their minds just because he is now the Test captain, but he should at the very least be given the chance to develop in his position by India’s cricketing community. The fifth-youngest captain in Indian Test history should be evaluated on his batting and tactical skills, but only after allowing him to develop in a position he undoubtedly values but did not pursue relentlessly. It's unjust to dangle the sword over his head and demand instant delivery or else… Although Gill will be shielded from much of the wrath in the bubble of the national setup, it is certain that he will be aware of the uproar—and the 'external noise,' as the Indian camp likes to call it—and it is all too human for him not to be impacted by it.

The first Test at Headingley in Leeds will mark the beginning of an exhilarating new chapter in Indian cricket in exactly one week. Since Rahul Dravid won the first Pataudi Trophy in 2007, India has not won a series in England. As they prepare for a stint in red-ball cricket without three of their most impactful players from the previous decade or so, the first clash for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy (now renamed the Pataudi Trophy) might be exactly what Gill and India need.

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