Give Shubman Gill a whole season before judging him as a Test captain: Sunil Gavaskar

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced an 18-man squad for the impending Test series against England on Saturday, May 24. Reports turned out to be true, as Shubman Gill was appointed as India's 37th Test captain. He will succeed Rohit Sharma, who stepped away from the red-ball format on May 7.

While many fans and experts were circumspect about Shubman's appointment as captain despite his modest returns as a batter in the longest format, the legendary Sunil Gavaskar urged them to give the Punjab batter one full season at the helm before judging his credentials.

"Definitely, yes. Nobody is an instant success. You have to give youngsters enough opportunities to succeed. After giving them four or five matches in a row, you can then decide whether they are good enough or not. Likewise, with captains, you can't judge them on one series. You have to give them a whole season leading India, and only then look at how they've coped with the responsibility," Gavaskar told India Today.

Since making his Test debut in 2020, Gill has represented India in 32 matches at an average of 35.05. However, his numbers dip significantly in key overseas conditions - England and South Africa - where his average alarmingly drops below 20.

Sometimes, when you're captain and also a batter, you naturally cut out a few risky shots, which can work in your favour: Gavaskar

Gavaskar noted that Test cricket holds a special place in Shubman's heart. The former India captain feels that the right-handed batter could lead the Asian giants for the next three cycles of the World Test Championship (WTC) as he is only 25 years old.

"It's a good selection because we're looking to the future. Yes, you might argue that he has only played 30-odd Tests, but several Indian captains had even fewer matches under their belts before being handed the reins - and many went on to enjoy long tenures. When you look at Shubman Gill as a cricketer, you see the seriousness with which he approaches the game. He holds this format very close to his heart. So, there is every reason to believe he could become one of India's most successful Test captains. This is the start of a new cycle. Giving the captaincy to a young man could serve India well, not just for this cycle but potentially the next two as well," Gavaskar stated.

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The cricketer-turned-commentator said that it won't be easy for the Indian batters to do well in English conditions. He also mentioned Shubman's problem of not converting starts into big scores in the Test arena. However, Gavaskar feels that the responsibility that comes with captaincy might help Shubman's batting.

"Captaincy or not, those first couple of Tests won't be easy. It'll be chilly and breezy - not ideal batting conditions. But Gill has the talent. He'll be the first to admit he hasn't converted his starts - those 30s and 40s - into big scores, especially overseas. That's something he can address. I believe that with the added responsibility of captaincy, he'll be better for it. Sometimes, when you're captain and also a batter, you naturally cut out a few risky shots, which can work in your favour," Gavaskar concluded.