Shubman Gill was named captain of India’s Test team after Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from the longest format on May 7. Since Shubman’s promotion was announced, many people have expressed concerns about the move. One of their main reasons is the Punjab batsman’s poor batting performance in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia), where he has a Test average of 26.72.

However, ex-India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh believes Shubman has the potential to build on the heritage of prior Indian captains. The cricketer-turned-commentator asked the Indian cricket community, particularly supporters, to give Shubman time to rise to the occasion.

“Each captain has the ability to carry on the legacy. Captains are not produced in 1-2 months. Give Gill some time, and he will rise to the occasion, demonstrating his capabilities as a captain. We’ve already seen him as a batter, and he’s ‘Gill Sahab the Great’,” Harbhajan told India Today.

Best wishes to Shubman Gill and Team India: Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan wished the Indian team all the luck as it prepares to face England in a high-voltage five-match Test series that begins on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds.

“We hope India performs well once more on English soil. Warmest wishes to Shubman Gill and Team India. It is a young team, but it is a ‘dum waali team’,” observed the famed spinner.

Returning to Shubman the batsman, he has been an excellent performance for India in ODI matches. No batter has scored more runs in international cricket’s 50-over format since 2022. However, he has yet to live up to his potential in Test cricket. In ODIs, the 25-year-old averages 59.04, while in Tests, it dips to 35.06. Shubman may be able to realise his full ability in the game’s longest format now that he has more responsibilities.