As India gear up for an exciting five-match Test series against England, all eyes are on young star Shubman Gill, who is set to begin his captaincy stint with the national team. Gill is stepping into the leadership role at a time of transition, leading a young squad into what many are calling the dawn of a new era in Test cricket. Ahead of the series, England star Jos Buttler has heaped praise on Gill, calling him a mix of Kohli and Rohit. Buttler himself has played under Gill in IPL.
"He's a really impressive player and an impressive young man. He's pretty calm and measured when he speaks, but interesting, I feel like on the field he's got a bit of fight about him; a bit of intensity, quite passionate. I think he'll be a mix of Kohli and Rohit,” Buttler said on 'For The Love Of Cricket' podcast.
"Kohli, that sort of real aggressive, really transformed the Indian team—in your face, up for the contest. Rohit (is) sort of a bit on the other side, a bit more laid back, very cool, calm, collected customer, but with that sort of fight. I feel like, from my time knowing Shubman so far, he'll be a bit in the middle. He's obviously learned from those two guys… but he'll be very much his own man."
"He talked about compartmentalising batting and captaining; so when he's batting he just wants to be a batter, and then he will try and work on his captaincy and try and separate the two roles. When you're doing such a big job as being captain of the Indian cricket team, he'll have to try and do that well and have some good people supporting him,”
Shubman Gill succeeded Rohit Sharma as India’s Test captain after the latter retired from Test cricket in May. The first Test between India and England will begin on June 20 at Headingley Cricket Ground.