Following Rohit Sharma's retirement from the red-ball format, the England series ushers in the Shubman Gill era and ushers in a new era in Indian Test cricket. With veterans like Virat Kohli and Rohit leaving Test cricket behind, Gill will be expected to step up as this young team's batting mainstay in addition to assuming the leadership role. Ahead of the series, legendary Sachin Tendulkar has shared extremely crucial advice for Gill so he can perform well in the English conditions.

Sachin Tendulkar on Shubman Gill

Tendulkar gave Gill advice he received from his coaches, which is to play in the V, as most of the time batters get out on the front foot. The legendary batter shared some crucial tips that would help him perform well in English conditions

"To start with, he has to play in the V, just like our coaches used to tell us. As that would help him to also leave the balls [not just deal with nip-backers] because when focusing on playing in the V, your eyeline and your body set-up is different. So, I would like him initially to stay side on, and move forward if the ball is pitched up. Because 80% of the time or even more, most batters are dismissed on that front foot. Back foot, unless it’s an obvious weakness, is less. The key to solving this is to focus a lot on getting on front foot, having that nice stride on the front foot and defending well. Driving is only an extension of that. If he can keep it straight and do that, it will help him," Sachin Tendulkar told the Indian Express.

"When the length is closer to you, then the hands automatically are going to go. But his challenge is not to let the hands go when the length is not there to be driven. That’s why I am emphasising so much on front-foot defense. Because when the ball is there, all these players have an attacking mindset. The hands will go instinctively. To make sure that you’re thinking of defending the ball when the ball is not to be driven will not come naturally to them because of the surfaces and because of the formats being played. Not just Gill, but others too. So there the tendency is for the hands to go away from the body," he added.

As he starts an exciting new chapter in his career, Shubman Gill, the recently named Test captain, has stated that winning international Test series will be his primary aim. Since 2007, India has failed to win a Test series in England. They now face a dangerous England side with a fresh-looking roster following the retirements of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and R. Ashwin.

Additionally, this will be the first time under Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum that England's aggressive "Bazball" style will be put to the test at home against India. Stokes stated that their current focus is entirely on India, as the Ashes is set for November.

He reaffirmed that England is not yet looking to the Ashes and that India is still a formidable team, even without some of their longstanding stalwarts. In what looks to be a competitive series, he stated that their goal is to prepare well and give it their all.

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