EXCLUSIVE | IND vs ENG: ‘Gautam Gambhir, not Shubman Gill, will be in the highlight’ – Ex-England spinner | Cricket News

Mumbai: India’s Test cricket group captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir throughout the pre-departure press convention forward of the 5-match Test cricket collection towards England, in Mumbai. (PTI Photo/Shashank Parade)(PTI06_05_2025_000351A)

NEW DELHI: Former England spinner Monty Panesar believes that the upcoming 5-match Test collection in England will be a significant check of Gautam Gambhir’s credentials as a crimson-ball coach. According to Panesar, greater than the new Test captain Shubman Gill, it’s Gambhir who will be in the highlight when the excessive-stakes collection will get underway. The first Test begins on June 20 at Headingley Stadium in Leeds.Excerpts…India’s Test squad seems comparatively inexperienced on paper. Do you suppose this younger Shubman Gill-led facet has what it takes to script historical past in England?This Indian group has just a few kids who’ve had the alternative to play county cricket. Because of that, they should utilise that have when going through England and actually again themselves to consider they’ll tackle England. Hopefully, England will produce pitches which are comparatively flat. If that is the case, I believe it’ll be a good contest. But even when the pitches have grass, I consider India nonetheless have the bowling assault to use these circumstances. The key, although, will lie with each the batters and bowlers. Can they translate their county cricket expertise into performances at the Test degree?English circumstances are identified to Test gamers in distinctive methods. What challenges do you foresee for this Indian group in the upcoming collection?For the Indian batters, the large problem will come when it is overcast. In these circumstances, the air cools down, the ball begins to swing extra and seams a bit further off the floor. There’s extra zip off the pitch in these moments, and India should keep away from shedding wickets in clusters. They’ll want to hold in there, give attention to survival, and as soon as they climate the storm and tire out a few bowlers, it will get simpler. One unhealthy session may take them out of the recreation.Which Indian gamers do you suppose have the potential to be recreation-changers in this 5-match collection?I believe Sai Sudharsan is a kind of gamers who may grow to be the breakout star of this tour. He’s carried out effectively for Surrey and has the temperament to problem England’s bowlers. So for me, Sai Sudharsan may grow to be the subsequent famous person of Indian cricket. Also, I believe it is a large tour for Shardul Thakur. Overseas, he offers India an possibility as a second-change bowler who can take wickets and be economical. He naturally pitches it up, so I see this being an vital tour for him as effectively.

How large of a job do you see Kuldeep Yadav taking part in in the collection? Can he characteristic in all 5 Tests given the English circumstances?I believe they’ll persist with Ravindra Jadeja, counting on his expertise. England’s batters could want to face the comparatively inexperienced Kuldeep Yadav. But if India stack their XI with all-rounders, Kuldeep may slot in as the second spinner and supply that X-issue. So sure, they might go along with Jadeja at six, Shardul or Nitish Reddy at seven, and that will open a spot for Kuldeep. With Shubman Gill getting into the position of Test captain after Rohit Sharma’s retirement, all eyes will additionally be on coach Gautam Gambhir. Do you’re feeling this collection would possibly find yourself being extra about Gambhir’s impression than Gill’s management?Gautam Gambhir clearly needs to construct a younger group that follows his strategies. He’s a tough taskmaster and disciplinarian. This is a tour the place Gambhir can form these gamers with out the affect or resistance of senior stars. If India win, it’ll be largely seen as the starting of a brand new period below Gambhir. If Gambhir leads this younger Indian facet to a collection win in England, we’ll start mentioning him alongside the greatest coaches—like Andy Flower, Ricky Ponting, and Stephen Fleming.

What’s your evaluation of England’s ‘Bazball’ strategy going into this collection? Do you suppose it will work towards this Indian facet?As for Bazball, I believe it may be a harmful technique. Indian bowlers have an excessive amount of expertise and would love for England batters to return laborious, rating at six or seven an over, and get bowled out for 200–220 in 40–50 overs. That would put India in management. So I count on England to be a bit extra cautious. If they go all weapons blazing from the begin, it may backfire.England are backing younger spinner Shoaib Bashir in this collection. But do you suppose his inconsistency and tendency to leak runs may find yourself hurting their possibilities?Regarding Shoaib Bashir, his pure supply drifts in due to his excessive-arm motion. His problem will be to bowl from wider of the crease and goal off stump. If he sticks to center-and-leg traces, Indian batters will play him comfortably. If he bowls outdoors off and threatens each edges, then he turns into a risk. If he assaults solely the inside edge, Indian batters will take him aside.Do you suppose England’s present tempo assault lacks the edge and aura that James Anderson and Stuart Broad as soon as delivered to the group?I do really feel England are lacking an X-issue. Gus Atkinson is out injured. Mark Wood isn’t accessible both — he was their go-to match-winner. Jamie Overton hasn’t performed since 2022. Chris Woakes is getting back from harm. Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse are promising bowlers however are inexperienced.KL Rahul will be the most skilled batter in this Indian facet, whereas Karun Nair is making a comeback after eight years. How essential will their contributions be in shaping India’s efficiency?It’s an enormous tour for Karun Nair. He must nail down that No. 3 or No. 4 slot and make it his personal. If he has a very good tour, he may cement his place for the subsequent 5 years. He has the expertise, temperament, and method. It’s about perception now. I hope he doesn’t go right into a shell as a result of it’s a Test area. He wants to precise himself, get pleasure from the stage, and present what he’s able to. KL Rahul, on the different hand, will be the anchor. He’s the one who steadies the ship when India are in bother. He can bat lengthy hours and permits others to play their pure aggressive recreation. He’s a bit like Pujara in that sense.What would be your decide for India’s high 5 in the first Test at Headingley?My high 5 for the first Test would be: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Karun Nair, and Sai Sudharsan.What’s your total prediction for the collection?If it’s inexperienced pitches, England might need a slight benefit. If the surfaces are flat, I believe India have an important likelihood to win. And I think the ECB would need the matches to stretch into Day 4 and 5—for the spectacle of the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy. That may work in India’s favour.