'Take your time, it's not going to be easy' - Ravi Shastri's advice to Shubman Gill ahead of England series

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has offered valuable advice to Indian Test captain Shubman Gill ahead of the upcoming five-match Test series in England, which spans around 45 days. Gill is set to lead India in red-ball cricket for the very first time, with Rishabh Pant named as his deputy.

Shastri stressed the importance of patience and composure, especially when stepping into one of the most demanding roles in international cricket. He advised Gill to take his time and reminded him that leading a team in English conditions is never an easy task.

“I think, take your time. 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,” Shastri told The ICC Review.

Gill is still in the early stages of his Test career, having scored 1,893 runs at an average of 35.05 in 32 matches since his debut in December 2020. Leading a side in English conditions, often considered one of the toughest challenges even for seasoned cricketers, will be a major test for the young captain.

With senior players like Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Virat Kohli absent from the squad, all eyes will be on Gill’s leadership. Notably, India have not won a Test series in England since 2007.

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Shastri believes this tour could be a defining moment in the 25-year-old’s career. He praised Gill’s maturity as the Gujarat Titans (GT) captain in IPL 2025, where he led the side impressively before exiting in the Eliminator.

“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. 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,” Shastri added.

India will take on England in the first Test at Headingley, starting on June 20. The Test will also mark the two teams' first series of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.