Shubman Gill, the rising star of Indian cricket, is rapidly establishing himself as a leader and a run-machine, prompting discussions about whether he is on track to surpass the legacies of Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and Sachin Tendulkar. At 26 years old, Gill has already taken on the captaincy in Tests and ODIs, demonstrating his potential to leave an indelible mark on the sport.

Gill's journey to leadership began with his U-19 days, where he led India to victory in the 2018 U-19 Cricket World Cup. By November 2019, he was the youngest cricketer to captain in the Deodhar Trophy, surpassing a record previously held by Virat Kohli. In the IPL, after Hardik Pandya's departure, the Gujarat Titans entrusted Gill with the captaincy. After a mixed season in 2024, Gill led the Titans to the Eliminator in 2025, showcasing his growth as a leader.

His international captaincy debut in T20Is came in July 2024 against Zimbabwe, where he led a young squad to a 4-1 series victory. In Test cricket, Gill captained India in the five-match series against England in June 2025, drawing the series 2-2. He also won his first Test match as captain against the West Indies by a significant margin of 336 runs.

In the ongoing second Test against the West Indies in Delhi, Gill scored his 10th Test century. This achievement places him ahead of Rohit Sharma in the list of most centuries in the World Test Championship (WTC). Gill has also equaled Virat Kohli's record for the most centuries as a Test captain in a year, notching five tons in 2025. Sachin Tendulkar had scored four centuries back in 1997.

Gill's consistent performance has led him to break several records. He is the fastest to reach 2000 and 2500 ODI runs. During the series against England, Gill broke Gavaskar's record for the most runs by an Indian captain in a Test series. His knock of 269 in Birmingham was the highest individual score by an Indian captain in an away Test, surpassing Kohli's previous record.

Gautam Gambhir, the head coach, has expressed his full support for Gill, stating his commitment to shield the young leader from criticism. Gill, on his part, has emphasized his focus on the present and future, aiming to win every upcoming tournament. He also acknowledged Rohit Sharma's influence on his leadership style, particularly Sharma's calmness and ability to foster friendship within the team.

While it is still early in his career, Shubman Gill's accomplishments and leadership qualities suggest that he has the potential to not only emulate but also surpass the achievements of some of India's greatest cricketers. His journey is a testament to his talent, hard work, and dedication to the sport.