‘Not going to be easy': Shastri's advice for new India skipper
Agencies
Shubman Gill is set to lead India in red-ball cricket for the very first time in the high-profile five-Test tour of England, and former head coach Ravi Shastri has shared thoughtful words of advice for the young batter.
Speaking on the latest episode of The ICC Review, Shastri emphasised patience and composure as key for the young leader stepping into one of the most challenging roles.
'I think, take your time,' Shastri said, offering his initial guidance to the 25-year-old Gill.
'It's not going to be easy. He's been asked to do a tough job, that is to captain India on a tour of England.' It is still early days in Gill's Test career, with 1893 runs at a 35.05 average in 32 matches, since making his debut in December 2020.
With English conditions known for testing even the most seasoned of cricketers, Gill's leadership debut will be one to look out for, especially in the absence of veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who announced their retirement last month. The side have also not won a Test series in England since 2007.
However, Shastri believes the tour could prove to be a significant developmental phase in the youngster's career.
'It's never easy, but I think he will learn from this exposure.
'What I saw of him in the IPL with the Gujarat Titans, he seemed very composed and calm. He's got a good temperament.' Gill's rise through the ranks has been marked by elegant batting and a level-headed approach on and off the field, proven by his exploits in the white-ball format as well for India.
Shastri was impressed with what he saw of Shubman Gill as captain of the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League 2025, saying he displayed maturity and tactical awareness, traits that impressed till his side's eventual exit in the Eliminators.
'He's matured as an individual, he's got some young players around with him, and I think it's a learning curve as far as Shubman Gill goes.' India take on England in the first of the five contests at Headingley, from Friday, June 20. The Test will also mark the two teams first series of the next ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
‘Not going to be easy': Shastri's advice for new India skipper
Agencies Shubman Gill is set to lead India in red-ball cricket for the very first time in the high-profile five-Test tour of England, and former head coach Ravi Shastri has shared thoughtful words of advice for the young batter. Speaking on the latest episode of The ICC Review, Shastri emphasised patience and composure as key for the young leader stepping into one of the most challenging roles. 'I think, take your time,' Shastri said, offering his initial guidance to the 25-year-old Gill. 'It's not going to be easy. He's been asked to do a tough job, that is to captain India on a tour of England.' It is still early days in Gill's Test career, with 1893 runs at a 35.05 average in 32 matches, since making his debut in December 2020. With English conditions known for testing even the most seasoned of cricketers, Gill's leadership debut will be one to look out for, especially in the absence of veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who announced their retirement last month. The side have also not won a Test series in England since 2007. However, Shastri believes the tour could prove to be a significant developmental phase in the youngster's career. 'It's never easy, but I think he will learn from this exposure. 'What I saw of him in the IPL with the Gujarat Titans, he seemed very composed and calm. He's got a good temperament.' Gill's rise through the ranks has been marked by elegant batting and a level-headed approach on and off the field, proven by his exploits in the white-ball format as well for India. Shastri was impressed with what he saw of Shubman Gill as captain of the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League 2025, saying he displayed maturity and tactical awareness, traits that impressed till his side's eventual exit in the Eliminators. 'He's matured as an individual, he's got some young players around with him, and I think it's a learning curve as far as Shubman Gill goes.' India take on England in the first of the five contests at Headingley, from Friday, June 20. The Test will also mark the two teams first series of the next ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.
Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
beIN extends exclusive broadcast rights of the Premier League across MENA until 2028
All 380 matches each season will be aired live and exclusive on beIN SPORTS Renewal cements beIN as home of football and reaffirms the PL's trust in beIN as a leading global broadcaster beIN MEDIA GROUP ('beIN'), the global sports, entertainment and media group, has secured the exclusive rights to broadcast every match of the Premier League (PL) in 24 countries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) until the end of the 2027/28 season, further solidifying its position as the global home of sports. Premier League fans in MENA will be able to watch all 380 games each season live and exclusive on the group's flagship sports network, beIN SPORTS, in Arabic and English, in addition to having access to comprehensive magazine programming, including pre- and post-match shows, as well as daily highlights and weekly wrap-up programmes. BeIN's market-leading OTT service, TOD, also ensures subscribers can watch all PL content via live stream across web, tablet, and mobile devices, providing unparalleled coverage for football fans. The agreement was signed on Tuesday by Mohammad Al Subaie, CEO of beIN MENA and the Premier League's Chief Media Officer Paul Molnar at beIN's MENA Headquarters in Qatar. Mohammad Al Subaie, CEO of beIN MENA, said: 'Our long-standing partnership with the Premier League, which dates back to 2013, has been a journey of mutual growth and shared success. This renewal not only signifies our enduring commitment to providing the highest quality sports content on beIN SPORTS and reinforces our leading position in the MENA region, but also demonstrates the trust that the Premier League has in us. 'We are proud to continue bringing every moment of the Premier League to our viewers for three more years with the world-class analysis and commentary that our millions of viewers are accustomed to.' Paul Molnar, Chief Media Officer of the Premier League, said: 'We are delighted to announce the extension of our longstanding partnership with beIN MEDIA GROUP for a further three seasons in MENA. 'This renewal reflects our shared commitment to delivering world-class football and providing the best possible, localised viewing experience. We look forward to continuing our close collaboration on a variety of content and promotional initiatives, bringing the Premier League even closer to our passionate fans in this important region.' Since its inception in 1992, the PL has grown to become one of the most-watched sports leagues in the world, with a cumulative TV audience of 3 billion people. The league's global appeal is attributed to its highly competitive nature, featuring iconic clubs and legendary players that have shaped the history of football.
Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Madrid ‘starting from scratch' under Xabi Alonso: Alexander-Arnold
PA Media/dpa London Trent Alexander-Arnold insists everyone is 'starting from scratch' as they try to take on board new Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso's methods. The former Liverpool defender may be at something of a disadvantage, having only joined the club last week and not fully speaking the language, but he believes the learning curve does not apply only to him. 'It's a new coach and a new coaching staff, so in that sense we're all starting from scratch,' he told RM Play ahead of his expected debut in Real's opening match of the Club World Cup against Al Hilal. 'We're all trying to learn and absorb all the information and put it into practice as quickly as possible. 'We're very excited to get started. The matches are coming up soon, so maybe we'll get off to a good start. 'Training has been really good, the ball is moving really quickly. Obviously, it's very different from what I'm used to in terms of the players and the styles of play, but that's fine. 'I'm enjoying the change and being part of this.' Alexander-Arnold surprised many when he delivered his first speech at his official presentation in front of club dignitaries in word-perfect Spanish. However, he admits he is not yet up to speed when it comes to the more technical aspects in team meetings. 'Unless it's just Spanish players, if Jude (Bellingham) or I are involved, the guys tend to speak English so we can understand them,' he added. 'Some things are easier than I thought they would be, and some things are more difficult. 'The meetings and tactical talks are in Spanish, so I need to get used to that a little bit. In terms of everyday conversation, it's easy. 'I have a decent level of Spanish, and I can hold a conversation with the guys. Likewise, they understand English very well, so it's easy to communicate.' Real paid Liverpool £8.5 million to release Alexander-Arnold a month early from a contract which was due to expire at the end of June in order to give Alonso, returning from Bayer Leverkusen to the club he represented as a player, the best possible start after succeeding Carlo Ancelotti. But it has also benefited Alexander-Arnold and fellow new signing Dean Huijsen, the former Bournemouth centre-back. 'That's been important for me, being able to come here, spend time in the hotel, training on the pitch,' said the England right-back. 'The time you spend with the team helps you integrate so for Dean and me, it's ideal to be around everyone, getting to know each other, understanding each other's personalities and integrating as well as possible.'
