Kuldeep Yadav Praises Test Captain Shubman Gill: “He’s Fully Ready to Lead Us”
Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav has expressed strong confidence in Shubman Gill as the new Test captain, stating that Gill is “fully ready to lead” the team. Kuldeep, who has been spending significant time with fellow spinner Ravindra Jadeja both on and off the field, also shared insights into his preparations and expectations for India’s upcoming five-match Test series in England.
Learning from Jadeja and Aiming for Impact in England
Kuldeep’s sole Test appearance in England was at Lord’s in 2018, where he went wicketless. However, he has since evolved into a formidable bowler, boasting 56 wickets in 13 Tests at an impressive average of 22.16 and a strike rate of 37.3 – a record unsurpassed by any spinner in Test history with a minimum of 50 wickets.
While Ravindra Jadeja’s all-round abilities position him as the likely first-choice spinner, Kuldeep’s left-arm wristspin could feature prominently if conditions favor a second spinner. His 19 wickets at an average of 20.15 were crucial in India’s comeback to win the home series against England 4-1 earlier in 2024.
Kuldeep emphasized the value of learning from Jadeja: “Playing alongside Jadeja is such a great honour for me. Obviously, Jadeja and [R] Ashwin have been brilliant over the last few years. When I made my debut in India, they helped me a lot. And even now, we have been having a lot of chat about how to bowl to certain batters, given the way the England batters are batting at the moment.” He added that their discussions, on and off the field, have greatly aided his understanding of tactics and field placements.
Amusingly, Kuldeep mentioned occupying the team bus seat previously used by Rohit Sharma, who recently retired from Test cricket. While quick to clarify he can “never take Rohit bhai’s place,” he noted the importance of learning from senior players like Jadeja, especially with Ashwin’s retirement.
Pitch Conditions and Preparation
Currently, India is engaged in an intra-squad match in Beckenham, and with sunny conditions, Kuldeep anticipates the pitch will start offering turn. He believes that with England’s shift towards flatter pitches to suit their aggressive batting style, spin could play a significant role in the five-Test series if matches extend.
“It seems like there will be good wickets for spinners,” Kuldeep observed, though he acknowledged that the practice match wicket initially had some moisture. “Whatever practice sessions I’ve had so far, the ball has been turning a bit. It’ll be really nice if it remains this way during the [Test] matches too.” He added that warm conditions could further assist spinners.
Regarding the intra-squad match, Kuldeep explained its purpose: “We’ve played a lot of T20 in the last four-five months, so volume is very important… the fast bowlers will bowl at least 15 to 20 overs so they can build up fully for the Test match, and it’s the same for the spinners – the more they bowl, the better it will be.”
Gill’s Leadership Qualities
Following Rohit Sharma’s Test retirement, Shubman Gill has taken over the captaincy. Kuldeep is confident in Gill’s leadership abilities, citing his past experience and engagement with senior players.
“Shubman knows how to lead a team,” Kuldeep asserted. “He has worked under the seniors in the last couple of years. In the last one year, you’d have seen him in a lot of discussions with Rohit bhai – not only in Tests but even in ODIs. I’m sure he has learned a lot, but as a leader, from what I have seen so far, he’s very motivated and he’s been playing an active role in lifting the team.”
Kuldeep concluded by saying, “I have seen over the last three-four sessions that Shubman has the same qualities that I’ve seen in our previous leadership groups. He’s fully ready to lead us.”
