Gill comes from the generation of India batters who has grown up with the IPL.
He made his debut in the competition as an 18-year-old and won the title in 2023 with Gujarat – the franchise he now captains.
But the 25-year-old has ascended to the highest honour in Indian sport and described it as “the biggest honour you can get”.
India have not won a Test series in England since a 1-0 victory in 2007. They were 2-1 up in the 2021 series but lost the series finale when it was rearranged 12 months later meaning the contest was drawn.
While the hosts have named their XI for Headingley, Gill and India have refrained from doing so, saying they were considering “one or two combinations”.
Gill will bat at number four, filling the slot previously held by one of his predecessors Virat Kohli who has retired from the format.
The right-hander said he has spoken to both Kohli, statistically India’s most successful Test skipper, and Rohit, who retired from Tests last month on the back of series defeats in Australia and at home against New Zealand.
“I met both of them in the IPL and they told me about their experiences here in England and the challenges we might face,” Gill said.
“The Test series we played against England in India was one of the best I have been a part of.
“The series scorecard was 4-1 but the number didn’t justify how the series was for us.”
