Shubman Gill talks about Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli [Source: @Rcbianofficial/X]
Indian men’s cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir and newly appointed Test captain Shubman Gill addressed the media today at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai ahead of the team’s departure to England for the five-match Test series.
The press conference, held at 7:30 p.m. IST, gave Gill an opportunity to share his thoughts on stepping into leadership following the retirement of two Indian greats, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Shubman Gill Addresses Impact Of Rohit-Kohli Void
Reflecting on the challenge ahead without the two maestros accompanying them on the tour, Gill said, “Will be very difficult to replace Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma."
However, Shubman Gill also opened up about how he would handle the situation with the team in the absence of the duo. Gill stressed the fact that pressure will be there but coping with it is key.
"Pressure is always there in every tour. Definitely, two very experienced players who played for such a long time and won so many times, very difficult to fill their space. But it is not a different kind of pressure, all of us players are used to it,” Gill said in the press conference.
Gill's candid acknowledgement highlighted both the respect he holds for his predecessors and the confidence he has in the team’s collective ability to handle expectations.
Confident Gill To Tour England From June 20
Gill, who was appointed India’s 37th Test captain on May 24, 2025, has so far played 32 Test matches since his debut against Australia. In these appearances, he has amassed 1,893 runs at an average of 35.05, including five centuries and seven half-centuries.
As India embarks on this challenging England tour, all eyes will be on Gill to lead the side with the same grit and determination that defined his predecessors. With Gambhir’s guidance and a talented squad, India aims to continue its strong legacy in Test cricket on foreign soil.