India captain Shubman Gill expressed his excitement about leading the team at Eden Gardens in Kolkata during the first Test against South Africa, starting November 14. This marks his debut red-ball international at one of India's most iconic venues. The 26-year-old has deep connections with the ground, having begun his Indian Premier League journey there with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2018. He played for KKR until 2021 before joining Gujarat Titans. Gill described the venue as feeling like home, comparing it to his training ground in Punjab. India last played a Test in Kolkata in 2019 against Bangladesh in a day-night match, where Gill was part of the squad but did not feature. He now gets the honor of captaining India against the reigning World Test Championship winners led by Temba Bavuma. The second Test will follow in Guwahati.
Gill's Special Bond with Eden Gardens and Captaincy Debut
Shubman Gill shared his cherished memories of Eden Gardens, where his IPL career began with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2018. He represented KKR until 2021 before moving to Gujarat Titans. The Punjab-born cricketer said the venue gives him a homecoming feeling similar to playing at the PCA stadium in his home state. India has not hosted a Test in Kolkata since 2019, when they defeated Bangladesh by an innings and 46 runs in a pink-ball match. Although Gill was in the squad then, he did not play. Now, he considers it a significant honor to captain India in his first Test at this historic ground against South Africa.
Source: Link