Dinesh Karthik, the former Indian wicket-keeper, has recently highlighted a striking similarity between the leadership styles of Shubman Gill, the current Test captain, and Virat Kohli, the former captain. This observation has sparked considerable discussion among cricket enthusiasts and analysts, drawing parallels between the two dynamic players.

Karthik, speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast, recounted a conversation he had with Kohli regarding captaincy. Kohli had stated that while people recognized him as a great Test cricketer and he enjoyed his batting, being the captain was the best thing to have happened to him. According to Karthik, Gill echoed this sentiment, revealing a shared perspective on the transformative impact of captaincy.

Gill's exact words, as recalled by Karthik, were that he used to approach batting differently, but now that he has the captaincy, he believes his role is to fulfill the team's requirements, setting aside individual aspirations as a batter. Karthik emphasized that this similarity in mindset is noteworthy, signaling Gill's readiness to lead from the front and prioritize the team's needs.

This comparison gains significance considering the context of Gill stepping into Kohli's shoes at the number four position in the Test team. After Kohli's retirement from Test cricket, Gill has been entrusted with the responsibility of carrying the Indian batting lineup. Like Kohli, Gill is also a Punjabi and uses an MRF bat.

Gill's appointment as captain came after Rohit Sharma also stepped down from the red-ball format. At 25, Gill is among the youngest to lead the Indian Test side. Reflecting on his appointment, Gill acknowledged the influence of both Kohli and Sharma, noting their contrasting leadership styles. He described Kohli as aggressive and someone who leads with passion, while noting that Sharma is calm, tactically astute, and communicative.

While Gill's first Test as captain in Leeds didn't go as planned, his performance in the second Test at Edgbaston was remarkable. He scored 269 in the first innings and 161 in the second, earning him the Man of the Match award and helping India level the series. Kohli praised Gill's performance, acknowledging his achievement of "rewriting history".

Dinesh Karthik believes that Gill is on the right path and needs to keep learning and trust himself just like Kohli did when he was appointed as captain.