Ricky Ponting backs selectors’ decision to appoint Shubman Gill as India’s Test captain

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting said the decision to appoint Shubman Gill as India’s new Test captain is the right move. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection appointed Shubman Gill as India’s Test skipper after Rohit Sharma announced his retirement.

The think tank didn’t back Jasprit Bumrah as he won’t be available for all five Test matches. Meanwhile, there is no doubt that leading India would be a challenge for Gill and he would look to get the best out of his players.

Speaking on ICC review, “I actually think it’s the right move. I know there’s a lot of other people out there, pundits out there saying they can’t understand why it wasn’t Bumrah and why they have gone to Shubman, but I think it’s pretty simple. Bumrah’s injuries are holding him back a bit in the last couple of years and you don’t want that with a captain. You can’t have a captain coming in and missing games here and there, so I think it’s I think it’s the right decision.”

Gill recently led Gujarat Titans to the playoffs and Ponting said the youngster looked confident as a leader. The two-time World Cup-winning captain backed Gill to get a long rope as captain.

“Now that they’ve made it, it’s one they’ve got to stick with and give him a good crack at it for, for a long period of time. Even just looking back at the way he’s handled this current GT (Gujarat Titans) team through this IPL, I think leadership sits really well with him.”

Meanwhile, Gill has a Test average of 35.05, and his average dips to 25 while playing outside the subcontinent. Ponting urged Gill to score runs consistently after taking the leadership role.

“The important thing for me with leadership as well as if you’re a batter and you’re a captain, you have to be scoring runs. And Shubman is doing that in IPL and I think the timing is right and I think you’ll have a good captain who’ll make a lot of Test runs going forward,” said Ponting.

The opening Test match between India and England will be played at Leeds, Headingley, from June 20 onwards.