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Ex-selector praises Gill's leadership, says India need to move on from Rohit, Kohli: ‘Indian team is doing well'
Not only has Shubman Gill succeeded Rohit Sharma as India Test captain, he has also filled the No 4 spot in the format vacated by Virat Kohli. AP/AFP
The Indian cricket team has begun a new era under Shubman Gill's leadership in the ongoing tour of England, where they are playing a five-match Test series that is halfway through. Despite the fact that scoreline in the series currently reads 2-1 in the home team's favour, the new-look Indian team has exceeded expectations so far.
Not only did they thrash the Ben Stokes-led hosts by 336 runs in the second Test at Edgbaston, they found themselves firmly on top more than once in their defeats at Headingley and Lord's and could very well have been 3-0 up in the ongoing series.
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Sarandeep urges India to move on from Ro-Ko
Former India off-spinner and selector Sarandeep Singh, for one, feels that the Indian team is heading in the right direction under Gill's leadership as well as under the supervision of head coach Gautam Gambhir, and that they can finally move on from stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli – both of whom had retired from the format in a space of a week in May, which had taken the cricketing world by surprise.
'Rohit and Kohli have served the team for many years and their positions are hard to fill but the Indian team is doing well,' the former national selector, who currently serves as head coach of the Delhi senior team, told news agency Press Trust of India.
Sarandeep's comments come at a time when former India cricketers such as Madan Lal and Yograj Singh have urged the two icons to make a U-turn on their announcements.
The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee had named Gill as the new Test captain despite senior pacer Jasprit Bumrah having led the side in Rohit's absence during the tour of Australia from November to January.
Bumrah was considered a prime candidate for full-time leadership, but his recent back injury and questions over his availability in the format due to workload management has resulted in the BCCI looking towards young Gill, who leads Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League.
'Shubman Gill is performing well at No. 4'
Sarandeep also praised Gill for performing superbly at the No 4 position, which had previously belonged to batting superstar Kohli – who himself had succeeded the legendary Sachin Tendulkar at that spot following the latter's retirement in 2013.
'Shubman Gill is performing well at No. 4, openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul are making runs, so this is a new step forward so since they are doing well, I believe we should back this team more.
'But I think it is time to move on for the team. They are doing extremely well under Shubman's leadership," Sarandeep added.
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