"Your main job is to perform; captaincy comes second" – Former England captain Graham Gooch on Shubman Gill

India will play the first Test against England on June 20 in Leeds, starting a five-match series. Shubman Gill, who is now the new Test captain, has been leading the team’s preparations. The squad has been training for over two weeks and even played a practice match among themselves in Beckenham to get ready.

Before the big game, Reporter spoke to former England captain Graham Gooch, who shared his views on Gill’s captaincy, the challenges ahead, and what to expect from England this summer.

Talking about India’s new phase under Gill, Gooch said, “It’s a fresh start. When one chapter ends, another begins. India has a lot of talent, no doubt. Of course, it’s not easy to replace players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, but this team can do well. If Jasprit Bumrah can’t play every match, it’ll be a big loss because he’s a top-class bowler. But this is a chance for young players to step up. And for Gill, it’s a big honour to captain the country. I think he’ll handle it well.”

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When asked what advice he’d give to Gill, Gooch said, “Some say not everyone can handle the pressure of captaincy, but I don’t fully agree. Being made captain of your country is the biggest honour a cricketer can get. It’s not just about pressure it’s about pride and giving your best.”