‘It’s a great privilege’: Shubman Gill leads India in front of home crowd

India’s Shubman Gill (PTI Photo) As India prepare to swap the fast-paced world of T20 cricket for the demands of the longest format, captain Shubman Gill believes there is still nothing in the game to match Test cricket.India started their red-ball season with a one-off Test against Afghanistan in Mullanpur on Saturday. While the match does not count towards the Test World Cup rankings, Gill made it clear that the occasion is of great importance to the side looking to gain momentum ahead of a crucial stretch of Test cricket.In a video released by the BCCI, Gill described Test cricket as the format that gives him the most satisfaction as a player.“For me, it’s the most satisfying format. If you do well in that format, it makes me feel the best about myself. That feeling when I’m wearing the whites, wearing the baggy cap. Nothing beats it, it’s the traditional way, the OG way of playing cricket,” he said.The timing of the Test presents a unique challenge for the Indian players. Just days after the end of another IPL season, many members of the squad now have to adapt to the physical and mental demands of five-day cricket.Gill acknowledged that the transition is far from straightforward.“The weather is very different. You play T20s at night and it’s almost 40 degrees now, so a lot of mental challenges come into play. And apart from all the technical things you have to change, adapting to this format in particular is why the format is so great and gives you so much respect around the world,” he explained.There are also some younger faces in the Indian team, many of whom Gill has met during his journey through the national set-up. The captain expressed confidence in the next generation and believes they have the potential to serve Indian cricket for years to come.“I have played with most of them in the Indian set-up and whenever we have had a series, whether abroad or in tournaments, they have shown that they are very exciting young talents. Hopefully they will represent, work hard and serve the country for a very long time.”For Gill personally, leading India remains one of the proudest moments of his career. The Punjab batsman grew up playing cricket in the region and admitted that captaining the national side in front of familiar surroundings makes the occasion even more special.“To be able to lead my country, I’ve always dreamed of playing for the country, let alone leading it. It’s a great privilege to do it here in front of my home ground where I grew up.”While India enter the competition as favourites, Gill was quick to dismiss any suggestion that Afghanistan should be underestimated. He pointed to the remarkable progress Afghanistan have made since the two teams first met in Test cricket in 2018.“I remember the Test we played against them and the journey they took from there. When they played the World Cup semi-final, the T20 World Cup semi-final, they’ve done really well in all the ICC tournaments. The type of talent they have, they’re no small opposition for us. They’ve got really good talent, they’re an amazing team and it’s going to be a very interesting Test match.”Although the match does not offer World Test Championship points, Gill believes it could prove crucial in helping India prepare for what lies ahead. After the Afghanistan match, India have nine Tests remaining in the current cycle, making this encounter an important opportunity to fine-tune their combinations and restore the rhythm of the red ball.“We have a very exciting opportunity to play this Test match and then we have nine Tests before the WTC final. So this Test match is very important for us to prepare for.”For a young Indian side in transition, the Test in Afghanistan may not have an impact on the rankings, but it offers something just as valuable: a chance to hone habits, build confidence and lay the foundations for the challenges ahead in the coming months.

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