Gautam Gambhir is back in Leeds and has joined the team ahead of the first Test on Friday. He had gone back to India last week as his mother was unwell. He left just before the intra-squad game in Beckenham and during his absence Ryan ten Doeschate was in charge.
This tour is big for Gambhir as his time as coach has had its ups and downs. India won the Champions Trophy earlier this year but didn’t make it to the WTC final for the first time in three cycles. India lost five out of their last eight Tests including a historic whitewash against New Zealand at home last year which ended their WTC final hopes.
With Shubman Gill as the new captain, this series is a new chapter in Test cricket for India especially after Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin retired from the format recently. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is one of the more experienced players in this young team and is part of the leadership group along with Gill.
On Wednesday, Pant spoke about his friendship with the captain and how it affects their on-field chemistry. I think Shubman and I have a really good friendship off the field. If you’re friends away from the game it helps on the field too. We really connect well and have good conversations which I think will be special for us, Pant told reporters. First Test starts on June 20.
