Shubman Gill To Be India Captain Across Formats? Here's The Update

Shubman Gill made his debut as captain for Team India during the Zimbabwe tour, where his young team clinched a decisive 4-1 series victory. The talented opener also commands the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League. Recently named vice-captain for the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka, Gill's leadership potential has been lauded, surpassing more experienced contenders, according to former India batting coach Vikram Rathour, who predicts Gill's eventual leadership across all formats. During the Zimbabwe tour, Gill displayed tactical acumen following an initial setback in the first T20I, guiding the team to bounce back strongly.

However, his captaincy faced scrutiny in IPL 2024 as Gujarat Titans struggled to secure a playoff berth. Rathour drew parallels to the early captaincy experiences of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, suggesting that such responsibilities have historically enhanced their performances, expressing confidence that Gill will similarly thrive with the opportunity.

"Whatever I have seen him, be it for the Gujarat Titans or in Zimbabwe (when Gill led in a T20 series), he did a good job. He has shown terrific body language, which is a must if you are leading a side. Now with the vice-captaincy, the BCCI has given him extra responsibility and I am sure he will thrive in this role," said Vikram Rathour as quoted by NDTV Sports.

"I feel captaincy brought the best out of Virat and Rohit and I feel it will do the same for Shubman. Although, he is not yet the captain, being in the leadership group will bring the best out of him as well. This is I am very sure off. When you are in that role, leading others, it gives you that extra bit of responsibility, which is good and I think is great for a young kid like Shubman, who one day might lead India in all three formats," he added.

Upon relinquishing his captaincy, former India skipper MS Dhoni expressed skepticism about the feasibility of split captaincy in Indian cricket. In contrast, Gautam Gambhir advocated for Rohit Sharma to assume leadership in white-ball cricket, advocating for a split captaincy model. Gambhir's stance on this matter has gained significance as he assumes the role of Head Coach for Team India.

In recent developments, following Rohit Sharma's retirement from T20Is, Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed as the T20I captain. Meanwhile, Rohit continues to lead in ODIs and Tests. This transition marks a significant shift in leadership dynamics within the Indian cricket setup, reflecting a strategic adjustment to optimize leadership across different formats.