The Men in Blue are entering a new chapter in the longest format following the retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin.
“The first piece of advice I would give Shubman Gill is to wear your captaincy hat only when fielding. Concentrate on your batting.
“It is crucial for Gill to make runs to earn respect in that dressing room. In SENA countries, his batting average is not one to be proud of,” Karthik mentioned on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.
Gill has appeared in 32 Test matches so far, with an average of 35 in red-ball cricket. His performance in overseas conditions hasn’t been stellar, raising concerns about whether he can balance his new leadership role with personal performance.
“I don’t believe he fully understands the significance of being a Test captain for India at this point. He’s stepping into a daunting situation. Coming to England as a cricketing nation is quite a challenge,” Karthik stated after interviewing Gill recently.
“Fortunately for Shubman Gill, the England bowling attack is somewhat susceptible. That’s the only silver lining I see. While England’s batting might put India under pressure, their bowling is a work in progress, which could favor India.”
Karthik asserts that Gautam Gambhir’s strategic insight as a coach is commendable, although he thinks his aggressive style may require some adjustment in a coaching capacity.
Karthik believes that Gambhir’s strategic prowess as a coach is exceptional, but his aggressive demeanor may need a bit of modification moving forward. Karthik has shared a dressing room with Gambhir during his playing career and took over as the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) from 2018 onwards.
“Tactically, Gauti (Gambhir) is a very competent coach. Man-management is an aspect I’m sure he will focus on. However, one constant with him is his commitment to his players, which is significant.”
“What I sometimes feel is that the level of aggression he displayed as a captain cannot be replicated as a coach. You’re responsible for managing various individuals. Once you allow them to perform, you must trust them to do their job. That is the challenge,” Karthik articulated.
