As India gears up for the highly anticipated five-Test series against England starting June 24 at Headingley, all eyes are on how the team will transition into a new era without stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Both legends have retired from Test cricket, leaving a leadership and experience vacuum that new skipper Shubman Gill will now be tasked with managing.

Speaking on this transition, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting acknowledged that replacing players of Rohit and Kohli’s stature is never easy. However, he expressed strong confidence in India’s bench strength and talent pipeline, especially given his exposure to young Indian talent through the IPL over the last decade.

“It’s incredibly tough to fill the shoes of players like Rohit and Virat who’ve been match-winners for India over so many years,” Ricky Ponting said in The ICC Review. “But if there’s any country equipped to do it swiftly and effectively, it’s India. They have an unbelievable reservoir of young talent.”

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Ponting specifically pointed to the emergence of players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made an immediate impact in international cricket after graduating from the IPL. While technical skills can be replaced, Ponting stressed that the real challenge lies in filling the void of experience left behind.

“The skill can be replaced over time, but the experience is what’s truly missing. That said, with leaders like KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah still in the mix, there’s enough wisdom in the dressing room to help guide the young guns,” Ricky Ponting added.

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Meanwhile, Shubman Gill remains unfazed. Speaking at the pre-departure press conference, the 25-year-old captain said, “Rohit bhai and Virat bhai have been pillars of our Test side. But our team has a great mix of youth and experience, and we’re confident in our ability to win under pressure.”