Don’t worry about the outside world: Tendulkar’s advice to Gill

Sachin Tendulkar has advised Shubman Gill, India's new Test captain, to not shy away from making bold decisions out of fear of external noise.

"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," the legendary cricketer told Cricbuzz on the eve of the first Test of the England-India series.

"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.

"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."

Gill, only 25, is leading the side on his maiden overseas tour as captain. Tendulkar himself was handed the reins of the team at the age of 23 years & 169 days, back in 1996, but he declined to draw any parallels between the two situations.

"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 said.