May 31, 2025: Former South African captain AB de Villiers has thrown his weight behind a young Indian Test side set to begin a new era under Shubman Gill, expressing confidence that India’s next generation of cricketers has the talent to do “something special” in the upcoming five-Test series in England.
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India will begin their new World Test Championship cycle without several modern greats. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin have all retired from Test cricket, while pace spearhead Mohammed Shami has been ruled out due to fitness concerns. That leaves a relatively inexperienced squad, with 25-year-old Gill taking over as Test captain.
“Yes, it’s time for the younger guys to step up,” said de Villiers during an event hosted by NGO Project Mumbai. “Shubman Gill taking on the responsibility — there’s lots of talent in India, and largely credit to the IPL for that.”
IPL: A Launchpad for the Next Generation
De Villiers praised the Indian Premier League for exposing young players to high-pressure situations early in their careers. He specifically mentioned emerging talents like Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who made headlines during IPL 2025 for his maturity and match-winning performances.
“We saw Vaibhav Suryavanshi this year and many other youngsters. They come in their first year and they already look mature and ready for the highest level. It’s a great platform for Indian cricket.”
While acknowledging the difficulty of touring England, de Villiers believes India’s young side can succeed if they back themselves.
“It’ll be a tough test, but they have all the talent in the world. If they believe in themselves, maybe they can achieve something special.”
On Kohli’s Retirement from Test Cricket
A long-time teammate of Virat Kohli at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, de Villiers said the Indian legend will be sorely missed in Test cricket.
“He followed his gut. He’s done a lot for cricket around the world. Luckily, we’ll still see him on the field in white-ball cricket, but he leaves behind a great red-ball legacy.”
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de Villiers Still Backs Punjab Kings
Switching gears to the IPL, de Villiers reiterated his earlier prediction that Punjab Kings could still reach the final, despite their recent defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1.
Punjab will face Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 on Sunday in Ahmedabad.
“I said a month ago that RCB and Gujarat Titans would be in the final. Odds are against me now, but cricket is unpredictable. Punjab can still do it. One or two great performances can flip the script.”
With the England tour looming and IPL 2025 heading toward a thrilling finale, India’s cricketing calendar is set for a dramatic and defining summer.