New Delhi: India need to find a way when put under pressure in their upcoming Test series in England, believes head coach Gautam Gambhir.
The first match begins on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds, where Shubman Gill will begin his captaincy tenure with a new-look Indian team after the retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin.
India begin a new World Test Championship cycle with the five-match series and will be looking for their first win in England since 2007.
“There are two ways of looking at this tour. One is we are without our three most experienced players or we got this phenomenal opportunity to do something special for the country,” Gambhir told BCCI.tv, in referrence to the retirements of Kohli, Rohit and Ashwin.
“When I look around in this group, I think I see the hunger, the passion and the commitment to do something special. If we make sacrifices, if we come out of our comfort zone, if we start fighting not every day but every session, every hour and every ball, I think we can have a memorable tour.
New skipper Gill also asked his team-mates to be mentally intuned to the demands of playing in the seaming English conditions.
“Let’s make each and every net session meaningful. Let’s put ourselves under a little pressure. When we are going out there, it’s not about going out there and just surviving, let’s find out our game, how we are going to play when we are put under pressure — be it bowlers or batters,” he said.
All eyes will be on Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair have been picked to replace Rohit and Kohli while Arshdeep Singh is in the squad as a seamer.
Sudharsan has been called up for the first time while Nair makes a return after seven years. Keeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been named deputy to Gill.
“First Test calls are always special, so I want to welcome Sai, who has a fabulous three months with the bat and make sure you have a very very successful red ball career,” Gambhir said.
“Comebacks are never easy, someone who has made a comeback after seven years, had a phenomenal last year,” the former left hander batter praised Nair.
“The amount of runs that you have got, and most importantly that never say die attitude, which is something that got you back into the team, and that is something inspiring for everyone in this group.
Shubman Gill will begin his Test captaincy tenure against England with a new-look Indian team after the retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
