Gill and Pant have more things to think about than ‘aura’ as they take their first steps as Captain and vice-captain.
New era, no aura? Gill and Pant have other things to worry about.
Perhaps the most misused word in sports discourse these days is aura. You’ve probably seen videos that make fun of Shubman Gill’s chirping voice from behind the wicket, which is a little high-pitched. That is, in contrast to Virat Kohli’s sledging, which is said to be more forceful and macho. You might have been concerned about the aura—or lack thereof—after watching footage of Gill having fun with his pal Ishan Kishan. You might have thought the Prince hadn’t earned it yet and laughed at him for his bat.
So what about Rishabh Pant, his deputy? Spiderman into the stump mike, the opposition captain’s babysitter during a hot series, and someone who can be branded “stupid, stupid, stupid” on TV in a time when pundits have been fired for saying far less about their predecessors. Where is the fear? Where is the aura if there is no fear?
Naturally, the two musicians were widely regarded as rude punks and “Nohits” before to becoming the King and the Hitman. Gill’s current career level is comparable to that of Kohli when he was initially appointed Test captain. At the age of 26, Kohli had just returned from a disastrous tour of England that left many wondering if he would ever reach his full potential. Prior to his debut Test as captain, his average was 39.46. The fact that he still had six hundreds in 29 Test matches indicated that he had promise.
In a more bowler-friendly era, 25-year-old Gill averages 35.05, has played 32 Test matches, and has five hundreds. He has been an IPL captain for two seasons and has made a name for himself as an ODI maestro, just like Kohli did back then.
Although Gill had a stellar 2020–21 season in Australia, he now averages 25.7 in 11 Test matches outside of Asia. He was dropped from the starting lineup in one Test and missed another due to injury in his most recent series. He scored 31, 28, 20, and 13 on Adelaide and Sydney, two of the series’ most challenging surfaces.
These are hardly the best returns for someone who has been the next great thing. The level of inspection will increase. For the first time in his career, Gill will be able to play the full length of a lengthy series in these nations, so it will be in the back of his mind. In Kohli’s case, there was never any question about the battle and the competitiveness required to achieve at this level. This is perhaps what those getting nostalgic miss in Gill’s demeanour.
However, not everyone displays fighting in the same manner. When Kohli took charge, Indian cricket was in a different era. During their most recent Australian tour, the team had been whitewashed. They have won one and lost thirteen of their previous seventeen Test matches outside of Asia and the West Indies. We needed a kicker and screamer at that moment.
This is a different Indian team in a different era, one that is more accustomed to success and has more efficient pathways for talent to emerge. Gill and Pant discuss the importance of providing players with a sense of security and validation as well as love and care in the locker room.
As India embarks on a new era, aura is not one of the many things to look forward to. In addition to how they react to England’s flashing blades, Gill and Pant’s strategy for taking 20 wickets depends on how effectively they bat in what may be the finest batting conditions India has encountered in England in ten years.
This is not to argue that the incoming leadership should be given any preferential treatment. Of course, they will be scrutinised. Their era will be defined by how they handle it. If they have an era, that is. The aura will take care of itself if they can manage their own batting, make wise selections, and react effectively to Bazball.