Gill took over the reins from Rohit Sharma, who announced his retirement from the format earlier this year. His first assignment as the full-time Test captain was a thrilling five-Test series against England, which ended in a 2-2 draw.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Gill celebrated his maiden Test series win as India captain after registering a comprehensive seven-wicket victory against the West Indies in the second Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Tuesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sharing his observations on Gill\u2019s captaincy on JioHotstar, Gambhir said, \u201cIt\u2019s still very early days\u2014he has captained only a few Test matches so far. The most important quality I see is his ability to handle pressure and tough situations. Gill is very much a work in progress; he hasn\u2019t yet faced the worst days of captaincy, which will inevitably come. It will test him personally and as a leader and I want to see how he responds when things don\u2019t go his way.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I\u2019ve told him I\u2019m always here to support, back, and protect him. My role as coach is to take the pressure and criticism off his shoulders, as long as he does the right things for the team and remains transparent and honest with the players inside the dressing room. That is the foundation for earning respect.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"So far, he has been absolutely brilliant\u2014transparent, upfront, hardworking, and focused on doing the right things. What more can a coach ask of a captain who is willing to put everything on the line?\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Reflecting on the challenges Gill faced during his initial Test leadership period, Gambhir said leading a young team against a quality England side was the the toughest test he faced in his captaincy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I vividly remember that first conversation with him as captain. We told him bluntly that we had thrown him into a deep sea\u2014either he would drown or become a world-class swimmer. Those 750 runs in England? They didn't matter so much to me; whether he scored them on the next tour or this one, it was the way he handled himself under pressure that mattered most. Leading a young team against a quality England side, I think he faced the toughest test of his captaincy. Regardless of how long he leads\u2014whether two months or ten years\u2014this was a defining challenge.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"After the Oval Test, which we won, I told him he had passed his most difficult test\u2014that the transition was complete and things would now become smoother. I sincerely hope it is so, because he truly deserves it. Many unfair things have been said about him, but I believe we often judge players on potential and expectations\u2014like a 24 or 25-year-old making a 50-plus Test average and scoring everywhere. That takes time, and he had the potential.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I vividly remember that first conversation with him as captain. We told him bluntly that we had thrown him into a deep sea\u2014either he would drown or become a world-class swimmer. Those 750 runs in England? They didn't matter so much to me; whether he scored them on the next tour or this one, it was the way he handled himself under pressure that mattered most. Leading a young team against a quality England side, I think he faced the toughest test of his captaincy. Regardless of how long he leads\u2014whether two months or ten years\u2014this was a defining challenge.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After India\u2019s Test series win over West Indies, Gill now prepares for the \u2018Toughest Rivalry\u2019 as he braces up to lead India in his debut ODI series against Australia on their home soil.<\/p>\r\n\r\n