India haven’t played a Test match in over five months, during which significant changes have taken place in the squad, mainly following the retirements of former skipper Rohit Sharma and veteran batter Virat Kohli during the Indian summer. With a youthful team now under the leadership of Shubman Gill, a challenging tour of England awaits.
However, Kuldeep Yadav firmly believes that India’s 37th Test captain is fully prepared for the responsibility.
“Shubman understands leadership well. He learned a lot from senior players, especially through his talks with Rohit in both ODIs and Tests. He’s motivated, has the right mindset, and has lifted the team. I’ve seen qualities in him that reflect senior leadership. He’s ready to lead.”
While Kuldeep expressed strong faith in Shubman Gill’s leadership, he also acknowledged that the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be felt in the Indian camp. However, he viewed it as a valuable opportunity for the younger players to find their footing and establish themselves in the team.
“When seniors like Virat bhai and Rohit bhai are missing, their absence is felt—they’ve done so much for the team,” Kuldeep said. “But it’s also a big opportunity for the youngsters to perform and settle in. They’re excited and ready for the challenge. The batters know the conditions will be tough, but they’re preparing well and putting in the work during practice.”
Kuldeep Yadav shares insights on India vs India A match in Beckenham
Kuldeep also spoke about the ongoing intra-squad match between India and India A, currently taking place behind closed doors in Beckenham.
“The top order of both teams have batted very well. I feel even the seamers have also bowled very well. Moving on to the fast bowlers, I feel that Shardul [Thakur] bowled very well in the first innings. In the second innings, the senior fast bowlers bowled well too. Overall, the performance within the squad was very good.”
England has traditionally favoured seam bowling over spin, but Kuldeep offered some insight into what spinners can expect in such conditions. He was pleased to observe some turn during all the practice sessions, which he saw as an encouraging sign.
“It’s important to have the right mindset. If the weather stays sunny and pitches remain the same, spinners could get help. On Day 1, there was some moisture and seamers got assistance. But later, I saw bounce and a bit of turn. In practice sessions too, the ball has been turning slightly. Hopefully, it turns in the Tests as well.”
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.