A day before the start of the five-match Test series between India and England, two former coaches of India have made statements about captain Shubman Gill. Both have different opinions about Gill. Former coach Gary Kirsten, who has made Team India the world champion, has supported Gill and said that as a captain, this player is ready to make a splash in international cricket. At the same time, former coach Ravi Shastri believes that Gill has a tough challenge to lead the team in the difficult conditions of England and he will have to show a lot of patience to succeed on this challenging tour.

Kirsten, who was the mentor of the IPL team Gujarat Titans, captained by Gill, believes that 25-year-old Gill has all the qualities to become a good leader. Kirsten told Jio Hotstar, 'I think Shubman will prove to be a great captain. He is a smart cricketer. He has a good mind for the game and he understands his game. He is very talented and a good person, which I think is very important.'

Kirsten said, 'The one thing I like most about Shubhman is that he does what he says. He is very hardworking and this is a great example for other players. I think he is ready to make a splash at the international level.' At the same time, former Australian opener Matthew Hayden said, 'Gill still has to consolidate his place in Test cricket. It takes time to create a legacy and become a legend. It is not right to compare him with Virat Kohli. We have seen him as a captain and he has the potential to become a good captain.'

At the same time, Ravi Shastri, while guiding the 25-year-old Gill on 'The ICC Review', said, 'I think Gill should take time. It is not going to be easy. Gill has been asked to do a tough job and that is to captain India on the England tour.' It is still early days for Gill's Test career, with the youngster having scored 1893 runs in 32 matches at an average of 35.05 since his debut in December 2020.

Apart from batting, Gill's leadership skills will also be tested in England, where India last won a Test series in 2007. Shastri believes the England tour could be a learning opportunity for Gill. "This tour is never easy, but I think he will learn from this experience. From what I saw of him in the IPL with Gujarat Titans, he was very composed and calm. He has a good temperament. He has matured as a person. There are some young players with him and I think this is Gill's time to learn," he said.

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