New Delhi: The Indian cricket team is preparing to commence the new year with a series against New Zealand. The Men in Blue will face the Black Caps in three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and five Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) leading up to the T20 World Cup 2026. Attention is particularly directed towards batter Shubman Gill.
Gill, who has been appointed as the Indian team’s captain for ODIs and Test matches, experienced his inaugural tour as skipper during the recent series in England, which concluded in a 2-2 draw. However, under his leadership, India faced challenges in the Test series against South Africa, which they lost at home.
Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa has shared insights into Gill’s captaincy, emphasizing areas for improvement. In a video on his YouTube channel, Uthappa remarked, “I think Shubman, as a captain, needs to trust him [Washington Sundar]. Certain players may underestimate a bowler if they feel they can play against them easily. This phenomenon is linked to human nature and has been observed in Indian cricket before. For the advancement of Indian cricket, it’s crucial for Washington and Kuldeep [Yadav] to participate in a significant number of Test matches and to bowl considerable overs.”
Uthappa also highlighted the importance of a balanced team. He pointed out that while a strong batting lineup can secure match victories, the bowling attack plays a critical role in winning a series. “We can win matches by batting, but to win a series, the bowling unit must perform effectively. For that, we need to develop our players and give bowlers the necessary exposure. Kuldeep Yadav should bowl around 20 to 25 overs to become accustomed to that workload,” he stated.
