Shubman Gill, the rising star of Indian cricket, is about to embark on a new chapter as he leads the national Test team in the highly anticipated series against England. Gill's appointment as captain, succeeding Rohit Sharma, has sparked considerable excitement and discussion within the cricketing fraternity. Adding fuel to the fire, teammate Jos Buttler has bestowed the ultimate compliment upon Gill, describing him as a "mix of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma."
Buttler, the former England limited-overs captain who recently shared the Gujarat Titans dressing room with Gill in the IPL, believes that the 25-year-old possesses a unique blend of leadership qualities from his predecessors. Speaking on his podcast 'For The Love of Cricket' alongside Stuart Broad, Buttler highlighted Gill's calm and measured demeanor off the field, contrasting it with the "fight and intensity" he displays on it.
"He's pretty calm and measured when he speaks, but (it's) interesting, I feel like on the field he's got a bit of fight about him; a bit of intensity, quite passionate. I think he'll be a mix of Kohli and Rohit," Buttler said. He elaborated on his assessment, noting Kohli's "real aggressive (character)" that transformed the Indian team with his "in your face, up for the contest" approach, while Rohit was "a bit on the other side, a bit more laid back, very cool, calm, collected customer, but with that sort of fight."
Buttler anticipates that Gill will find a balance between these two contrasting styles, ultimately forging his own unique captaincy identity. "He's obviously learned from those two guys… but he'll be very much his own man," Buttler predicted.
Gill himself has expressed surprise at his appointment as Test captain, admitting that it was "not even in my dreams." He shared an emotional conversation with his father upon receiving the news, revealing that he had kept it under wraps until it was official. Despite the unexpected nature of his elevation, Gill has received the backing of the selectors and new head coach Gautam Gambhir, who have encouraged him to express himself as a leader without undue pressure or expectations.
However, not everyone is convinced that Gill fully grasps the magnitude of his new role. Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik has cautioned that Gill may not yet realize "the enormity of what it means to be a Test captain for India." Karthik acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead, particularly in England, where many teams with star-studded lineups have struggled. Nevertheless, Karthik remains hopeful, pointing to the perceived vulnerability of the English bowling attack as a potential area of exploitation for Gill and his team.
As Gill prepares to lead India in the five-Test series against England, all eyes will be on him to see how he blends the leadership styles of Kohli and Rohit while carving out his own identity. The series, commencing on June 20 in Leeds, marks the beginning of a new World Test Championship cycle and a fresh era for Indian Test cricket under its young captain. The pressure will be immense, but with his talent, temperament, and the backing of his teammates, Shubman Gill has the opportunity to prove that he is indeed the right man to lead India into the future.
