Shubman Gill (left) made his Test debut against Australia in 2020 New India captain Shubman Gill says leading his side to a series victory over England would definitely be bigger than winning the Indian Premier League (IPL). The five-Test series begins in Leeds on Friday and will beGill's first in charge of India's Test sidehaving replaced Rohit Sharma. It is one of the longest format's marquee series amid a cricketing landscape increasingly influenced by the IPL - the world's richest T20 franchise league. "You don't get many opportunities as a captain to come to England, maybe two. If you are the best of your generation, maybe three. The IPL comes every year and you get to have a crack at it," Gill, who has won the IPL with Gujarat Titans, said. "In my opinion winning a Test series in England, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa is bigger." Gill comes from the generation of India batters who has grown up with the IPL. He made his debut in the competition as an 18-year-old and won the title in 2023 with Gujarat - the franchise he now captains. But the 25-year-old has ascended to the highest honour in Indian sport and described it as "the biggest honour you can get". India have not won a Test series in England since a 1-0 victory in 2007. They were 2-1 up in the 2021 series butlost the series finale when it was rearranged 12 months later meaning the contest was drawn. Whilethe hosts have named their XIfor Headingley, Gill and India have refrained from doing so, saying they were considering "one or two combinations". Gill will bat at number four, filling the slot previously held by one of his predecessors Virat Kohli who has retired from the format. The right-hander said he has spoken to both Kohli, statistically India's most successful Test skipper, and Rohit, whoretired from Testslast month on the back of series defeats in Australia and at home against New Zealand. "I met both of them in the IPL and they told me about their experiences here in England and the challenges we might face," Gill said. "The Test series we played against England in India was one of the best I have been a part of. "The series scorecard was 4-1 but the number didn't justify how the series was for us." This video can not be played Pant on how much Test means to India after air crash
Win in England bigger than IPL - India captain Gill
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Shubman Gill Prioritizes Test Series Victory in England Over IPL Success"
Bbc News
8.0
TruthLens AI Summary
Shubman Gill, the newly appointed captain of the Indian Test cricket team, has expressed that leading his team to a Test series victory in England would be a more significant achievement than winning the Indian Premier League (IPL). As India prepares to embark on a five-Test series against England, starting in Leeds, this will mark Gill's first series as captain, having taken over the reins from Rohit Sharma. The importance of this series is underscored by the fact that Test cricket's standing is often overshadowed by the lucrative IPL, which has transformed the cricketing landscape. Gill, who has previously won the IPL with the Gujarat Titans, emphasized that opportunities to captain in England are rare, with most players only getting a few chances in their careers. He stated, "In my opinion winning a Test series in England, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa is bigger," underlining the prestige associated with such victories in traditional cricketing nations.
Gill, who debuted in the IPL as a teenager, has quickly risen through the ranks in Indian cricket and views his captaincy as a pinnacle of his sporting journey. India has not secured a Test series win in England since 2007 and faced disappointment in their last encounter, where they were unable to convert a 2-1 lead into a series victory. The young captain will be batting at number four, a position previously held by the retired Virat Kohli, and he has sought advice from both Kohli and former captain Rohit Sharma regarding the challenges of playing in England. Gill reflected on the intensity of the previous Test series against England in India, noting that the scoreline of 4-1 did not accurately represent the competitive nature of those matches. As the team finalizes their playing XI, Gill's leadership will be closely watched as India aims to reclaim its strength in Test cricket on foreign soil.
TruthLens AI Analysis
You need to be a member to generate the AI analysis for this article.
Log In to Generate AnalysisNot a member yet? Register for free.