Former Australian captain Michael Clarke reckons Rishabh Pant will have a huge role to play in the upcoming five-match Test series against England. Pant will be Shubman Gill’s deputy and Clarke said the wicket-keeper bat will be very important as a leader.

The gloveman has an impressive record while playing outside Asia, but he could deliver as per the expectations in the Border-Gavaskar series against Australia.

Meanwhile, Pant has led India in four T20Is, and he has been leading multiple franchises in the IPL since 2021. Pant recently led Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025 but could not lead from the front.

“I like him being vice-captain. I think he’ll be very important for Shubman Gill. I think they have got to work together. I think he’s very confident with his own game at the moment, and vice-captaincy will help that self-belief as well. If all goes according to the plan and they play the cricket that they want to play, they could be there for a long time,” Clarke said in an interview with RevSportz.

On the other hand, Gill is yet to prove his mettle in foreign conditions as a batter. The 25-year-old averages 25 outside the Indian subcontinent and he will need to turn the tables. The 2015 World Cup-winning captain said Gill will need to score to earn the respect of his teammates.

“Shubman Gill, I think, tactically, was very good in the IPL. First and foremost, he will want to make runs because that’s a way to earn respect from his teammates. Captaincy is something on top of that. I think it’s going to be a challenge for anyone who is captaining five Test matches in England because it’s tough cricket. But I think Shubman can do it,” Clarke said.

The opening Test match between India and England will be played at Leeds, Headingley, from June 20 onwards.