Shubman Gill, the rising star of Indian cricket, has revealed his cricketing idols, offering insights into the influences that have shaped his career. In a recent podcast, the young captain, who is now at the helm of the Test team, disclosed that Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli have been his greatest inspirations.
Gill's admiration for Tendulkar stems from his childhood. He revealed that Tendulkar was his father's favorite cricketer, and he grew up watching him. Tendulkar's retirement in 2013 coincided with Gill's growing understanding of the game, including its mental and tactical aspects. Gill has also said Sachin Tendulkar was his cricketing idol when he was growing up.
As Gill matured as a player, he began to closely follow Virat Kohli. He was particularly inspired by Kohli's passion, hunger, and commitment to the game. Gill has been quoted as saying that Kohli had an abundance of these qualities, which really inspired him. In fact, a photo of Gill with Kohli from 2016 went viral, with Gill captioning it "With my idol". Gill has also stated that Virat Kohli is his current favorite cricketer.
Gill's journey in cricket has been remarkable. He first gained prominence during the 2018 U19 World Cup in New Zealand. He made his ODI debut in 2019 and his Test debut in 2020-21. In 2025, he became the India Test captain after Rohit Sharma's retirement. Gill has also been named the vice-captain of the Indian ODI and T20I teams.
Gill's performances in the 2025 Test series against England solidified his position as a future leader. He scored 754 runs at an average of 75.40, including four centuries. Gill is known for converting his scores of fifty or more into centuries.
There is growing speculation that Gill is set to replace Rohit Sharma as India's ODI captain. Some reports suggest that the BCCI views Gill as a long-term leader, with the 2027 ODI World Cup in mind. With Rohit Sharma nearing 40 by the time of the 2027 World Cup, the selectors may want Gill to have ample time to build a team and develop strategies. Some reports also indicate that the selectors are keen on having a single captain for all formats, a strategy that has worked well for India in the past.
Jos Buttler, who played under Gill in the IPL, has observed that Gill's captaincy style is a mix of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. He noted that Kohli was aggressive and transformed the Indian team, while Rohit was laid-back but with a fighting spirit. Buttler expects Gill to find a balance between the two.
Following Rohit Sharma's retirement from Test cricket, Gill shared a heartfelt message, acknowledging Rohit as one of the best captains he had played under and an inspiration. Gill wrote that there are things he learned from Rohit that he would remember forever.
As Shubman Gill continues his journey, his leadership and batting prowess will be crucial for India's success in the years to come. His blend of inspiration from Tendulkar and Kohli, coupled with his own unique approach, positions him as a key figure in Indian cricket.
