Shubman Gill, the new captain of the Indian Test team, is drawing both praise for his "cricketing IQ" and scrutiny regarding the potential impact of captaincy on his batting, particularly in the absence of experienced stalwarts like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. As Gill steps into this crucial role, the pressure is on to maintain his individual performance while leading the team.
Gill's leadership acumen has been recognized by cricketing figures. Former India coach Gary Kirsten noted that Gill possesses "a good brain for the game" and understands his own play well. Matthew Hayden highlighted that Gill has "huge shoes to fill" and will need time to adjust to Test cricket. Jos Buttler, who played under Gill in the IPL, described him as a mix of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, possessing both aggression and calmness. Gill himself has stated his belief in leading by example through performance, discipline, and hard work.
However, concerns have been raised about the potential negative impact of captaincy on Gill's batting. The burden of leadership can sometimes affect a player's individual performance, especially when also tasked with filling the shoes of legendary predecessors. Gill is also taking over Virat Kohli's No. 4 position in the batting order. That spot has been dominated by Sachin Tendulkar and Kohli for three decades. Some analysts have pointed out Gill's relatively modest Test batting average of 35, which drops to 29 in away games and even further when playing in England.
Despite these concerns, Gill has demonstrated his capabilities as a leader and a batsman. At just 25 years old, he recently set the stage on fire with a thundering 269 against England, which was the highest-ever Test score by an Indian captain, and seventh highest overall for India in Tests. This record-breaking innings showcased his character and ability to perform under pressure. Gill has emphasized the importance of staying at the crease and playing grounded shots, demonstrating his dedication to representing India. He also revealed that he spoke with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli during the IPL, and they shared their experiences of England conditions with him.
Gill's journey to captaincy has been marked by significant achievements. He shot to fame with 418 runs at an average of 104.50 in the 2018 ICC U19 World Cup. He has also achieved milestones in ODI cricket, becoming the fastest player to reach 2000 runs in 38 innings and 2500 runs in 50 innings.
The key for Gill will be to strike a balance between his captaincy responsibilities and his batting. Buttler noted that Gill talked about compartmentalizing batting and captaining, focusing on being a batter when batting and then switching to captaincy. Gill's success in leading the Indian Test team will depend on his ability to maintain his individual performance while effectively guiding the team in the absence of Kohli and Rohit.
Overall, Shubman Gill's appointment as Test captain marks a new era for Indian cricket. While challenges and comparisons to his predecessors are inevitable, Gill has the talent, cricketing IQ, and leadership qualities to forge his own path and lead India to success. The upcoming matches will be a test of his ability to handle pressure, maintain his batting form, and guide a new generation of Indian cricketers.
