Shubman Gill Launches Captaincy with Stellar Performance in Practice Match

In a significant milestone for Indian cricket, Shubman Gill embarked on his captaincy journey with a commendable performance during the first day of the practice match between the Indian cricket team and India A at Beckenham, England, on June 14, 2025. Alongside Gill, opener KL Rahul also showcased his batting prowess, hitting a half-century, while all-rounder Shardul Thakur contributed with both bat and ball.

This four-day warm-up match, which holds no first-class status, serves as a crucial opportunity for the Indian team to acclimatize to English conditions before their five-match Test series against England, set to commence on June 20, 2025. The Indian cricket management opted for a closed-door format for this practice match, limiting updates to social media posts from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Since arriving in England, KL Rahul has demonstrated exceptional form, following a remarkable 116 and 51 in a prior match against the England Lions with his half-century in this game. His performance is particularly timely as he prepares for the upcoming Test series, enhancing his confidence and readiness.

Gill, who has faced challenges in his past performances in England—with an average of only 14.66 across six innings—scored a half-century in this match, providing him with a much-needed boost ahead of a pivotal series. Shardul Thakur, competing for a spot against Nitish Kumar Reddy, also showcased his capabilities by picking wickets and contributing to the team’s efforts.

The upcoming series marks a new era for the Indian cricket team, with Gill stepping into the captaincy role following the retirements of celebrated players such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket. The series will take place across multiple iconic venues, including Headingley in Leeds, Edgbaston in Birmingham, Lord's and The Oval in London, and Old Trafford in Manchester.

The Indian Test squad for the series comprises: - Shubman Gill (captain) - Rishabh Pant (vice-captain) - Yashasvi Jaiswal - KL Rahul - Sai Sudharsan - Abhimanyu Easwaran - Karun Nair - Nitish Reddy - Ravindra Jadeja - Dhruv Jurel - Washington Sundar - Shardul Thakur - Jasprit Bumrah - Mohammed Siraj - Prasidh Krishna - Akash Deep - Arshdeep Singh - Kuldeep Yadav

As the Indian team looks to establish itself under new leadership, the performances in this practice match could be instrumental in shaping the squad's dynamics and strategy for the forthcoming series against England. With Gill's leadership and the team's collective talent, fans and analysts alike anticipate a compelling contest ahead.