'...If Shubman Gill had that kind of a fiery side to him, we would have seen it a little earlier. You don't have to show it when you're the captain.
The Indian selectors will be announcing the team for the three-match ODI series against the Black Caps, starting January 11 in Vadodara and there have been speculations about whether Pant can hold on to his place in the squad.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan are in the fray for selection in India's Asia Cup squad, which is expected to be picked in the third week of August.
Shubman Gill enjoyed a phenomenal run with the bat in England, piling up 754 runs at an average of 75.40 with four centuries.
It is understood that right after India's abject surrender against South Africa in the two-Test series at home last month, someone who matters in the cricket board had once again informally approached VVS Laxman to check if he would be interested in coaching the red ball team.
'Sanju was playing because Shubman and Yashasvi were not available at that point (and) so was Abhishek. (But) Abhishek's performances clearly make it hard to leave him out. Plus, his bowling (left arm spin) is handy.'
'I want to be conventional and also blend with out-of-box thinking. Want to have nice balance...'
India made 3,809 runs in this series, which is the most ever scored by a team in a five Test series.
With three centuries already in the series, Gill could join Don Bradman and Gavaskar in the elite club of captains who've hit the most hundreds in a single Test series, if he converts his current innings into a fourth on Day 5.
Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik praised India's Test captain Shubman Gill after he scored a record-equalling fourth hundred in the fourth Test against England.
Gill said staying calm under pressure would be crucial going forward in the five-match series.
The India skipper will be eyeing the great Don Bradman's 88-year-old record for most runs by a captain in a Test series.
Shubman Gill has not just scored a double hundred; he's rewritten the record books.
India Test captain Shubman Gill expressed anguish over the large-scale devastation caused by floods in his home state of Punjab due to incessant rainfall.
Three-day gap in between Tests is too less for five-match series: Stokes, Gill on scheduling
Images from the second T20 International between India and South Africa, at the PCA's New Chandigarh Stadium, Mullanpur.
Shubman Gill was extremely consistent with thought process, respected good balls: Sachin Tendulkar
India great Virat Kohli continued his push to regain his place as the best ODI batter while moving up to the second spot in the latest ICC rankings released on Wednesday.
Gill, who donned the opener's role during India's unbeaten run to the Asia Cup trophy, mustered up 127 runs in seven appearances.
India all-rounder Axar Patel was on Monday ruled out of the remaining two T20 Internationals against South Africa due to illness with the BCCI's selection committee naming Shahbaz Ahmed as his replacement.
Shubman Gill had fired a verbal salvo at Zak Crawley during the Lord's Test after he and his opening partner Ben Duckett arrived 90 seconds late to the crease.
The win saw Manolo Marquez's team become the first side to defend the Super Cup title and win it for a record-extending third time.
Virat Kohli moved up to No. 4 in the latest ICC rankings with a match-winning hundred against South Africa in the first ODI at Ranchi boosting his ascend.
Test captain Shubman Gill also doesn't fit in the Indian T20 line-up, which has a settled top three in Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and captain Suryakumar Yadav.
'Myself, Shubman, we could have given a good start because we can't rely on Abhishek all the time.'
Five Tests between India and England going down to the wire should be enough to convince the sport's authorities not to tinker with the format, reckoned Shubman Gill after a dramatic win at The Oval on Monday.
Jaiswal Blazes, Gill Leads: India's Young Guns Dominate Opening Day
After a brilliant 269 in 387 balls in the first innings, Gill was dismissed for an entertaining 161 off 162 balls with 13 fours and 8 sixes. His runs came at a strike rate of 99.38.
Shubman Gill walked out at Edgbaston with questions swirling around his captaincy - and answered them with his bat
Former skipper Mohammad Azharuddin slipped to the third spot, having scored 426 runs at 85.20 during India's tour of England in 1990.
Jaiswal ticked a box in the third ODI with his maidan ton and Ruturaj Gaikwad chipped in with a hundred at Raipur, leaving Gambhir pleased as punch.
BCCI AGM: Kohli, Rohit's contracts, payments for women in domestic cricket to be discussed
Former spinner Amit Mishra backed the inclusion of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to in the 2027 ODI World Cup, saying that there is no one better in the team who can handle pressure better than the legendary duo.
'...he's not shown any obvious signs of dismissal and he's played stylishly.'
Hardik Pandya made a memorable comeback to the Indian team, smashing a blistering half-century to power India to a thumping 101-run win over South Africa in the first T20 International.
K L Rahul takes over the captaincy after regular skipper Shubman Gill missed the series because of a neck injury.
Gill earns glory with maiden double hundred, puts India on top in second Test
'Hopefully, we can finish this match on a great note.'
Save Shreyas Iyer, who will take a lot more time to get fit, others are expected to represent their state teams.
India captain Shubman Gill was on Wednesday named among the three nominees for ICC's Player of the Month award for July along with South Africa's Wiaan Mulder and England skipper Ben Stokes.