England’s India Tour: Ricky Ponting highlighted Captain Challenge for Shubman Gill; It is said that ‘it will not be easy for him’. Cricket news
New Delhi: Australian legend Ricky Ponting has made a clear assessment of Shubman Gill’s readiness for the challenges of Test Captain, urging the young Indian captain to consider batting at number 4 during the upcoming five-prone series starting on June 20. Ponting, who gave coaching in the IPL 2025 finals to Punjab Kings, believes that the additional responsibility of the leadership may affect Gill’s batting, which still requires refinement for the format of the red ball.Go beyond the border with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!Ponting told PTI, “His white-ball form has been incredibly good.” “But he has got some work to do on the batting of his Test match. And when you are a new captain it is never easy – for the degree that he is going to do to worry about his batting. This will not be easy for him. ,Gill, who started as a opener and moved to number 3, is expected to inherit Virat Kohli’s vacant number 4 slot. Ponting sees that as a strategic step that can reduce the burden during Gill’s early captaincy days.
Ponting said, “If they (Yashsavi) go as an opener with Jaiswal and Sai Sudarshan, they need someone else experienced at number 3 – perhaps KL Rahul or Karun Nair. This would allow Shubman to bat at four,” Ponting explained. “Once you grow in it, you can take yourself back to number 3.”Despite concerns, Ponting is confident of Gill’s probability of long -term leadership.“He just feels such a man that the extra responsibility will not be too much. He has really found a level head on his shoulders. He is someone who is living around Indian cricket for another 10 years.”Ponting, one of the finest captains of cricket, also dissected Gill’s flaws in test cricket – especially his tendency to play with hard hands and his topical laps in focus.
“I think this is more his mental application,” said Ponting. “Technically nothing is wrong. But sometimes, he can be a little or slightly lazy during an innings. You can be 100% committed to each ball, for six or seven hours a day. This is a challenge for Shubman.”Comparing with Virender Sehwag, Ponting said, “Some great test players did not have very defensive games. But if you are under the control of your strokeplay, it is less than a concern. Defense is important, but mindset matters more.”
