Chennai: Taking on the responsibility of captaincy for the first time can weigh heavily on any young cricketer, but Shubman Gill has embraced the role with composure and let his bat do the talking, feels New Zealand batting talisman Kane Williamson.
Without showing signs of pressure, Gill has led from the front, piling on runs in the ongoing India-England series and proving his class yet again. “Shubman is an incredible, world-class player, as he has shown in this series. It has been great to see him go out and play well. He is already a superstar and is going to be there for some time, doing some incredible things in the game,” Williamson, who will lead London Spirit in ‘The Hundred’, told TOI .
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Taking over the No. 4 spot from Virat Kohli is not an easy task. yet Gill seems to have stepped into that role with confidence. “On most occasions, when he walks out to the crease, filling the shoes of Virat is not something that can be done. But Shubman is someone who paves his own way and has his own style. He has a huge amount of belief in his ability and what he can do,” Williamson added.
While the No. 4 spot has been firmly established, the No. 3 position continues to be a work in progress. Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair have had limited opportunities there but are yet to cement their place. “I have seen more of Sai Sudarshan in the IPL. He is an amazing player. We see how he adjusts his game to different formats. He has a wonderful technique and a great temperament. He is a real student of the game. It is great to see him get that exposure at the Test level and it is one of the most challenging places to play. I think it is going to be amazing for his game and himself moving forward as a player.
“Karun is obviously a real quality player. There are always these sorts of decisions you have to make at the international level when there are so many talented players.”
‘Full of admiration for Root’Joe Root is steadily closing in on Sachin Tendulkar’s alltime record for the highest Test runs, showcasing remarkable consistency throughout his career. “It is an incredible achievement, what he has done in the game to date. Let alone the opportunity to become the all-time run-scorer — longevity, consistency, not just consistency but consistently being the best. He has managed to maintain that level for so long. Not only that, he has done it in a way that has always been about the team. Full of admiration for the way he does it,” Williamson said.
‘Excited and looking forward to The Hundred’Williamson will be playing in The Hundred for the first time. London Spirit failed to progress to the playoff stage in the previous two editions but the addition of Williamson could help change their fortunes. “I’m excited and looking forward to the tournament. We have a strong squad like the other teams. We have a number of players in the England Test side, and they have been quite busy. The team has joined up today (Saturday) and we will start the preparations.”
(Watch The Hundred 2025 (Men’s) — London Spirit vs Oval Invincibles on August 5, 2025 from 11pm IST live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD.For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the
India vs England Test match here.
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