<p>Bengaluru: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced an 18-member squad for the all-important five-match Test series against England starting on June 20 at Leeds in Headingly. </p>.<p>With Shubman Gill taking charge and several fresh faces making the trip, it could be an era-defining moment in Indian cricket. </p>.<p>India will fly to the British shores without Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin after the trio announced their retirements. This will be the first time such a state of affairs has existed since 2011.</p>.<p>The void left by Kohli and Rohit will be felt as much in the dressing room as out in the middle, for while their run-making dropped off towards the end, the contribution to the team's maturity and progress was stronger.</p>.Rohit, Virat and Ashwin have given us blueprint to win Tests away from home: Gill.<p>While it could be argued that the current scenario is not the perfect setting for Gill to get his captaincy stint underway, Cheteshwar Pujara feels the 25-year-old has the capability to do a good job with his calm and composed demeanour. </p>.<p>“When you go abroad as a captain, despite being young or matured, it will be a challenge. It won’t be easy, but it is a great opportunity. Gill is calm and composed and is capable enough to do what is required,” Cheteshwar Pujara said in a media interaction organised by Sony Sports Network, the official broadcaster of the India tour of England. </p>.<p>With two high profile names having called time, it gave India a major headache that the side have not had for a long time. Who will be India’s top 4? Pujara opined that the openers (Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul) who looked good in Australia should continue, with Abhimanyu Easwaran or Karun Nair batting at three, if Gill takes the No. 4 spot. </p>.<p>“If you are talking about the top 3, the openers (Rahul and Jaiswal) should continue. If Gill bats at 4, Easwaran or Nair could be a good fit at three.”</p>.<p>When asked if the captaincy responsibility would help Gill to find his groove in the traditional format, the 37-year-old said it would certainly be a motivating factor to do well. </p>.<p>“One thing I could say is that it will definitely motivate him to do well. While he is batting, I'm sure he would not think about the captaincy responsibility, and I'm sure he can differentiate both aspects,” he added. </p>.<p>Talking about Gill beating Jasprit Bumrah for the leadership role, Pujara said that the pace ace would have been the skipper if he was expected to play all matches.</p>.<p>“The reason Bumrah has not been picked as the captain is that he is not likely to play all five games. If he was fit to play all games, I'm sure he would have been the leader there,” he concluded.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced an 18-member squad for the all-important five-match Test series against England starting on June 20 at Leeds in Headingly. </p>.<p>With Shubman Gill taking charge and several fresh faces making the trip, it could be an era-defining moment in Indian cricket. </p>.<p>India will fly to the British shores without Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin after the trio announced their retirements. This will be the first time such a state of affairs has existed since 2011.</p>.<p>The void left by Kohli and Rohit will be felt as much in the dressing room as out in the middle, for while their run-making dropped off towards the end, the contribution to the team's maturity and progress was stronger.</p>.Rohit, Virat and Ashwin have given us blueprint to win Tests away from home: Gill.<p>While it could be argued that the current scenario is not the perfect setting for Gill to get his captaincy stint underway, Cheteshwar Pujara feels the 25-year-old has the capability to do a good job with his calm and composed demeanour. </p>.<p>“When you go abroad as a captain, despite being young or matured, it will be a challenge. It won’t be easy, but it is a great opportunity. Gill is calm and composed and is capable enough to do what is required,” Cheteshwar Pujara said in a media interaction organised by Sony Sports Network, the official broadcaster of the India tour of England. </p>.<p>With two high profile names having called time, it gave India a major headache that the side have not had for a long time. Who will be India’s top 4? Pujara opined that the openers (Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul) who looked good in Australia should continue, with Abhimanyu Easwaran or Karun Nair batting at three, if Gill takes the No. 4 spot. </p>.<p>“If you are talking about the top 3, the openers (Rahul and Jaiswal) should continue. If Gill bats at 4, Easwaran or Nair could be a good fit at three.”</p>.<p>When asked if the captaincy responsibility would help Gill to find his groove in the traditional format, the 37-year-old said it would certainly be a motivating factor to do well. </p>.<p>“One thing I could say is that it will definitely motivate him to do well. While he is batting, I'm sure he would not think about the captaincy responsibility, and I'm sure he can differentiate both aspects,” he added. </p>.<p>Talking about Gill beating Jasprit Bumrah for the leadership role, Pujara said that the pace ace would have been the skipper if he was expected to play all matches.</p>.<p>“The reason Bumrah has not been picked as the captain is that he is not likely to play all five games. If he was fit to play all games, I'm sure he would have been the leader there,” he concluded.</p>