'Back what's best for the team' - Sachin Tendulkar advises Shubman Gill to ignore external noise

Published - 19 Jun 2025, 19:39 IST | Updated - 19 Jun 2025, 19:44 IST

Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has offered valuable advice to newly appointed Test captain Shubman Gill ahead of the upcoming five-match Test series against England. As India prepares to kick off the new World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle, with the first Test set to begin on June 20 at Headingley, Tendulkar urged Gill to remain focused and not be influenced by outside noise.

Tendulkar emphasized the importance of backing one's instincts and making bold decisions without fear of external opinions. He remarked that people will always have something to say and conceded that as a captain, it is important to stay committed to what has been discussed within the dressing room and go ahead with it.

"My advice to him would be to take those bold decisions and not to worry about the outside world so long as the decision is taken in the interest of the team," said Tendulkar as quoted by Cricbuzz.

"Because people will have opinions, and people will say that he is being too attacking or too defensive, or this is not happening, that is not happening. He should do what is in the interest of the team and whatever is discussed in the dressing room,” he added.

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The Indian legend stated that Gill should not concern himself with the outside world. Tendulkar stressed that decisions made within the dressing room, with the team’s best interests in mind, should be fully backed. He encouraged Gill to trust the process and prioritize what is best for the team over external opinions.

"So that is what matters above anything else, and that is what my advice to him would be - not to worry about the outside world. The dressing room, and whatever decisions he is taking in the interest of the team, are important - and to back that," Tendulkar said.

The 25-year-old is set to lead the Indian Test team as captain for the very first time. Interestingly, Tendulkar himself was entrusted with the captaincy at a young age, just 23 years and 169 days, when he took over the role in 1996.

"(They are) different eras altogether, so no point comparing that era to what happened in Indian cricket then and what is happening now. We need to address what is happening now and do it," Tendulkar concluded.