Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has voiced his support for India’s decision to appoint Shubman Gill as the Test skipper for the upcoming tour of England. With Rohit Sharma retiring from Tests last month, India faced a challenging decision regarding the Test captaincy.
Despite Jasprit Bumrah serving as Rohit’s deputy until their recent series in Australia, the management opted for the young and talented Gill as the captain. Gill, who is 25 years old, has only captained India in the T20I series in Zimbabwe last year and has no prior experience leading in Test matches.
In an interview with the ICC Review, Ponting expressed his belief that appointing Gill as Test captain was the right move. He highlighted Bumrah’s injury concerns as a factor in the decision, stating that a captain cannot afford to miss games frequently due to injuries.
Ponting emphasized the need for consistency and performance from Gill as a leader, pointing to the youngster’s impressive performance as captain of the Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2025. Despite the team finishing third in the standings, Gill showcased strong leadership qualities throughout the tournament.
The former Australian captain also stressed the importance of Gill continuing to score runs consistently to establish himself as a successful leader. While Gill had a stellar IPL campaign with 650 runs at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 155.87 in 15 matches, his Test numbers have been comparatively lower, with an average of 35.05 in 32 outings.
Gill’s first test as captain will be the upcoming match against England at Leeds, scheduled to commence on June 20. Ponting advised Gill to maintain his form and focus on scoring runs to solidify his position as a reliable leader for the Indian team.
In conclusion, Ponting’s endorsement of Gill as Test captain reflects confidence in the young cricketer’s abilities and potential. As Gill prepares to take on the leadership role in the upcoming series against England, all eyes will be on him to deliver both as a captain and as a batsman on the field.
