Exclusive | ‘Your main job is to perform … Captain is secondary’: Pre-England Captain Graham Gooch on Shubman Gill | Cricket news

Leeds: India is set to face England in the first Test of the five -match series in Leeds from June 20. Shubman Gill-led unit has now been preparing for more than two weeks and has even been depicted in an intra-scv game in Bekenham. Next to the series opener, Timesofindia.com spoke to former England captain Graham Gooch, who spoke in length about the captain in a free-wheeling chat, Shubman Gill’s challenge, why England have a point to prove and what can expect from the pitches in this summer.Part …The tour of England begins a new era in Indian cricket. Your thoughts under Shubman Gill. He is just 25 years old and still progresses as a test batsman. Will it be a real challenge to lead an inexperienced side?This is a new era, isn’t it? My idea is that if one door is closed, the other opens. I am sure they will give a good account of themselves. Talent is undoubtedly in the Indian cricket team. This is just that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have some big shoes to fill with retirement. This would be a big loss if Bumrah does not lead the attack in all sports. I mean, of course, he is a world class bowler. The pressure will be released, but some young players will have to move. And captain, this is a great honor for the captain of your country, and I am sure he (Gill) will handle it in a good way.After leading England and then the kind of success you got from the bat during this period will be a piece of advice you will give to Gill? Not every player is able to handle the captaincy pressure.I do not agree with pressure. Some people are not even under pressure. I do not agree with that feeling. I believe that the captain of your country is the greatest honor to get an artist. Because you are not only the captain of the other 10 players, you are the captain of your game. Therefore, as a role model, your responsibility and as an ambassador to set tone for your country’s cricket system, from professional cricketers to cricketers who play zonal cricket in your country, and young, boys and girls who are willing to play or representing for India are your responsibility to set tone and become an example for all cricket.

So this is more than just one captain in a team. I think the honor should inspire you as a player. This has definitely inspired me. I do not always subscribe to the scene that this is more pressure. You have found it to do it in your own way and you have become yourself, do not copy anyone. I think the most important thing for a captain is that you have to perform. Your main task is to perform in the team, with the bat in their case. So he has to do so. The captaincy is secondary to perform. And if you perform well, it makes the captaincy easier.There is a lot of being said about the Indian team, but you will also have a point to prove England? The last time he did not have a good series against India, when both sides met in the longest format.I think England have a point to prove this because I am in favor of that type of cricket, which they are trying to play the tone of the game, to set the tone of the game, trying to play exciting, expressive, game type, exciting, expressive, game to play. I am in favor of that, but the records show that they have some magnificent series where they have won and they have lost something.I think there is a big factor for England, while you want to go on the map of the attacker, they have done a great job. When you need to play smart in Test cricket, you have to play smart. Understood? You cannot go out of all attacks every time. You have to play the situation. If such a situation you need to dig a little, then you have to dig. But England, in the last few years, the attack has probably become very high. But the general principle of what they are trying to do, I think it is good for Test cricket. Because as we all know, Test cricket franchise is under the pressure of cricket, extremely.Do you think this aggressive style of cricket opens up a lot of opportunities for the inexperienced Indian unit? England may open some doors as they play cricket.I think the purpose of Ben Stokes is that he does not want to draw any Test match. If he cannot win it, he is not interested in taking the exam. Which leaves a little question. Sometimes it is impossible to win a test. The most difficult task in the five-day test is to make a win-win opportunity. This does not mean that you always take an opportunity for that victory. But you also play for two, three, four days, even the last day to create an opportunity for a win. And England play for him.And they have said to the whole world, or Ben Stokes, this is the way he wants to play. So sometimes you can find yourself in a difficult situation in a test where you probably have to play or whatever you have to save. You have to play every situation personally. So that this opposition gives, not an advantage, but they know how England want to play. So they know that they are all going out and they are not interested in draw.The absence of two stallwarts of Indian cricket – Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma – will be on the series? Do you believe that there is a slight increase in England because they do not have to worry about two world class cricketers?The benefit of the house gives England a slight edge, yes. Because we are using those situations. However, with Anderson and widespread retired, there is now a separate bowling attack. So England is still trying to work what his best bowling is. We are playing your friends and Australia back-to-back, two best sides in the world. So we are still trying to work what their best bowling is. So there is a small of a question there. But given the situation in English, where the ball revolves around the seam, now India has got some very good seamors, especially if Bumrah plays. So they will be competitive without a doubt. But I think the benefit of the house will give England a slight lead, but there will not be a lot of increase.

Different places present different challenges in England. How different are they from each other and what should a visiting team keep in mind?I think what you have to think is that we have been very dry till now. There has been hardly any rain for the last three months. And this means that all the pitches will be quite dry. And I don’t think they will, I mean, all the English places want the match to be four days. So contrary to some other parts of the world. Where you can do whatever you want. Here, the field, they want the match to be four days. do you understand what I’m saying? So they will try and produce beautiful flat pitches. They may look a little bit and they may turn slightly towards the end. But they will be beautiful, usually, they will be very good pitch, usually.So this may mean hard work for the bowlers…Well, we have the first half of summer unusually dry. You know, there is no rain, hardly March and April. And recently a little rain. So they should be dry. And good pitch. So the bowlers will have to work hard.Before we sign off, I do not want to shake the wet plate again, but suggest any food for visitors?(Laughing) I am sure if they want to try the tiger shrimp here, they will be cured.