Shubman has earned right to be India skipper, passed toughest test in England: Gambhir
New Delhi (PTI): Shubman Gill has "already passed his toughest test as captain in England", asserted India head coach Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday as he lauded the young leader for earning the dressing room's respect by "saying and doing the right things".
As he turned 44 on Tuesday, Gambhir had more than one reason to celebrate with India completing a Test series sweep over the West Indies, which was also Gill's first series triumph as captain.
Asked how is he managing the 26-year-old, who was also recently handed ODI captaincy and will start in the role with an away series against Australia from Sunday, Gambhir was prompt with his response.
"(By) just allowing him to be himself. I think no one has done him a favour by appointing him the Test captain or (the) one-day captain. I think he deserves every bit of it," Gambhir said.
"I think he's worked hard. He has already passed his toughest test as captain -- that was in England, five Tests away from home in tough conditions against a quality team," he added, referring to the rubber that 2-2 and in which every match was fought intensely, lasting the whole five days.
Leading in such an high-pressure assignment that lasted well over two months, it couldn't have got tougher for Gill, Gambhir asserted.
"I know it's tough for him...and I've said it many times, that England was probably the toughest Test for him. Five Test matches over the course of two, two and a half months, against a quality England side. What more could he have faced?" he asked.
"Sometimes we only keep talking about the captain, but the way the team has responded to him and to his leadership is equally important," Gambhir said.
Gill led by example with 754 runs during the tour of England and Gambhir said despite his relatively young age, the star batter is clear in communication.
"You've got to give credit to the entire group in that dressing room. You do earn respect by scoring runs, but you also earn respect by saying the right things, and doing the right things.
"I think your actions should be more than any other thing, not just the performances. He's done phenomenally well, and so has the group," he said.
On to India's overall prospects in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle, Gambhir said he doesn't want to fret over whether the team will play the 2027 World Test Championship final just yet.
"For me, I am not looking ahead at what is going to happen in the World Test Championship final in 2027. That is still a long, long way away.
"I think, staying in the present is very important. It was important for us to win this series at home. More importantly, I think we have got a very busy schedule. Hopefully, we can keep continuing from here."
On a lighter note, would he consider having a mental conditioning coach or trainer to support Gill, who is being seen as an all-format captain going forward?
The usually straight-faced Gambhir cracked up for once.
"First and foremost, I need one," he quipped.
"When the team wins, everyone is in a good space but when it doesn't win, I need to keep them in a good space," he added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
National Herald case: Shivakumar to seek time next week to appear before Delhi police
New Delhi/Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday said he will ask for time from Delhi police to appear before them next week, to provide required information as part of the probe into the National Herald case.
He said he will seek time after the ongoing winter session of Karnataka legislature ends on December 19. He will also ask the Delhi police to provide him the FIR copy.
Shivakumar, who is in the national capital, had earlier said that he will appear before the Delhi police on Monday. But, he postponed the plan in order to rush back to Karnataka to participate in the last rites of veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa, scheduled later in the day in Davangere.
"I had to go (to appear before the Delhi police), but I have to go back urgently. I'm asking them for time, stating that I will come next week," Shivakumar told reporters in New Delhi.
"They (Delhi police) have not attached the FIR copy while issuing notice to me. I need FIR copy, because we had already given all the required replies to the ED. I don't know what the FIR says, I only read in papers. They have given notice, I will ask for a FIR copy. I will come next week after the Assembly session."
The Delhi Police had issued a notice to Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Congress chief, seeking financial and transactional details as part of its probe into the National Herald case.
The notice issued by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) states that Shivakumar is "supposed to be having vital information" pertaining to the National Herald case registered on October 3 this year, against top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
In the notice dated November 29, the EOW had asked Shivakumar to appear before it or provide the requested information by December 19 latest.
Investigators have sought details about his personal background, his association with the Congress party, and a complete break up of funds allegedly transferred by him or associated entities to Young Indian.
To a question on meeting AICC General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, amid the ongoing power tussle between him and CM Siddaramaiah over the Chief Minister post, Shivakumar said when he comes to Delhi, he usually meets every one.
"Whether it is Surjewala or Kharge (AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge) or Venugopal, I will meet everyone. During lunch yesterday I met Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. I have met everyone. What's wrong?" he asked.
Shivakumar was in Delhi to take part in Congress' "Vote Chori" rally on Sunday, and had also participated in the lunch organised by the party for its leaders.
Responding to a question, whether any meeting is planned with leaders today, the Deputy CM said, he and Kharge will be travelling together to Karnataka, to pay last respects to Shamanuru Shivashankarappa.
Asked if he will seek time for a separate meeting with Congress leadership including Rahul Gandhi, during the next visit to Delhi, Sivakumar said, "such things will be there between us in the party.... you don't worry."
