INDIA TOUR OF ENGLAND, 2025
Kuldeep Yadav has utmost confidence that the 37th Indian Test captain is ready to do the job © Getty
It has been over five months since India last played a Test. Since then, there have been multiple changes within the Indian Test ranks, primarily due to the retirements of former captain Rohit Sharma and Indian stalwart Virat Kohli during the Indian summer. The young Indian side led by Shubman Gill will be tested on English shores but Kuldeep Yadav has utmost confidence that the 37th Indian Test captain is ready to do the job.
“As you have seen, Shubman knows how to lead the team,” Kuldeep said. “He has worked under a lot of seniors as well. From the last couple of years, he has been in a lot of discussions with Rohit [Sharma]. Not only in ODI, but also in Tests. I am sure he has learnt a lot. As a leader, he is very motivated. The way he thinks is very important. He has helped the team a lot and lifted us. In the last 3-4 sessions…I have seen the qualities of the seniors within the leadership group and I have seen those qualities in Shubman as well. He is ready to lead the team.”
Despite Kuldeep believing in the capabilities of Gill, he did not usher away from saying that the services of Rohit and Kohli will be missed within the Indian setup. But he also believed that it is in turn a great chance for the youngsters in the Indian side to settle down within the side.
“When there are no seniors, there is always a shortage. The kind of players they are – Virat bhai and Rohit bhai, who have done so much for the team, their importance will always be there. But, it is an opportunity for the youngsters to perform well. They have a chance to settle in the team. That is very important. I am sure everyone feels the lack of them in the team but you will see that the youngsters look very excited.
“The youngsters are aware that the conditions are going to be challenging for the batters but they are ready for it. As you can see in the practice session, the batsmen are preparing and taking a lot of time with the bat, and the preparations are going well.”
Kuldeep also shed some light on the intra-squad match between India and India A which is being played behind closed doors in Beckenham.
“The top order of both teams have batted very well. I feel even the seamers have also bowled very well. Moving on to the fast bowlers, I feel that Shardul [Thakur] bowled very well in the first innings. In the second innings, the senior fast bowlers bowled well too. Overall, the performance within the squad was very good.”
England has always been more seam friendly than spin. Kuldeep gave some clarity on what a spinner could be looking for in such conditions, and was glad to see that the ball was turning a little in all of the practice sessions.
“It is important to know what mindset you are going with,” Kuldeep said. “I hope that the wickets will be good and if you look at the conditions, if it is sunny as it has been in the last 3-4 days, and if the wickets are like this, it will be helpful for the spinners. I don’t usually worry much about the conditions but if you do get a helpful wicket, it feels good to bowl on it.
“On the first day [of the practice match], there was a little moisture in the wicket. Seamers got a little help. But as the game progressed, I felt that the ball was bouncing on this wicket. On the first day, I didn’t see much turn when I put the ball in the first spell. Today is Day 3. Once I bowl today, I will know how the wicket is. But in all the practice sessions I have done, the ball is turning a little. If it is turning like this here, I hope it will turn in the Test matches too.”
© Cricbuzz
