'Great Learner, Competitive, Fantastic Captain': Shubman Gill Gets Legends' Seal Of Approval
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Sunil Gavkasar. Suresh Raina, Ishant Sharma and Parthiv Patel weigh up Shubman Gill the skipper who is the frontrunner to replace Rohit Sharma as the skipper in whites.
Evening on Saturday at Kotla seemed a little poetic. The setting sun, cool breeze flowing across and light drizzle set up a soothing atmosphere for an enjoyable training session under the lights. Since the pitches were wrapped under covers, a bunch of Gujarat Titans boys – mostly the uncapped ones – kicked off a casual football game to warm up before heading to the nets.
Joining the likes of Mahipal Lomror, Nishant Sindhu, assistant coach Matthew Wade and others, was Shubman Gill, blending in effortlessly with his teammates during that 30-minute-long session. More than the game, laughter and fun were the focus.
'Gill spends a lot of time with young players," said GT batting coach Parthiv Patel at the pre-match press conference, validating what was on display ahead of the team's net sessions on Saturday evening.
The way Gill gelled with the pack explained what the Titans' secret sauce this season has been. The 25-year-old seemed to have learned the art of man management, and his traits have worked superbly this season.
Last season proved to be a challenging one for Gill, with GT finishing seventh on the table despite collecting 14 points. But those setbacks seem to have been valuable learning experiences. Fast forward to IPL 2025, and the Titans are back in the mix — currently among the top four with 16 points and just one win away from securing a playoff spot.
And right at the centre of it all is Gill, leading by example.
Beyond the IPL spotlight, Gill is emerging as the leading contender to become India's next Test captain. And if the words of his GT teammates and coaches are anything to go by, he's putting in the hard work to be ready for the role.
Veteran pacer Ishant Sharma, currently playing under Gill in IPL 2025, opined that the youngster is learning very well. The right-arm quick, in the latest episode of the , said that Gill is a bowler's captain who gives them the freedom to execute their plans until failure.
'It's his second year in leadership and he is learning a lot. There are times when his plans don't work but then come the time-outs where he rethinks. Ashu Bhai [head coach Ashish Nehra], comes with his inputs and in fact, he puts the bowlers first," said Ishant while replying to a CNN-News18 query.
'A good leader should be a bowler's captain. He should give freedom to his bowlers. He must back his bowlers' plans and if they don't work, then they can switch to Plan B. And Gill does that. So, he is learning a lot and in the coming years, we would see him captaining way more than what he is doing right now," he added.
And not just Ishant, GT's batting coach Parthiv also believes that Gill possesses all the qualities needed to become a great captain and his leadership is clearly felt within the Titans camp.
Speaking on the eve of GT's away fixture against Delhi Capitals, Parthiv praised Gill's impact as skipper.
'You can feel Shubman Gill, the captain in the Gujarat Titans dressing room. I am not quite sure about the (Indian) captaincy talks and can't comment on it but Shubman as GT captain has been fantastic," Parthiv said.
'He's been fantastic. You know, I thought the way he's been brilliant around the group, how well, he is batting right now and the way he is handling the situation is scoring a lot of runs," he added.
Apart from the people who have spent the last few months with Gill in the Gujarat camp, the legends of Indian cricket also seem to have approved the youngster as one of the potential future leaders, perhaps, someone who could take the baton from Rohit Sharma.
Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar believes the high-pressure environment of the IPL is the ideal platform to groom future India captains. Speaking at the JioHotstar Press Room, the former India captain said while Gill, Rishabh Pant, and Shreyas Iyer are strong contenders for the role, it will take a couple of years for them to truly mature as leaders.
'It would take a couple of years to get to the level of our super captains. All of them brought something unique to the table," Gavaskar said.
'When you look at Gill, Iyer, and Pant — the main contenders for Indian captaincy — you can see a mix of different qualities. Gill seems the most competitive. When there's a close call, he's quick to question the umpire. He's very involved in the game," he added.
Echoing the emotions, former India allrounder Suresh Raina – fondly known as Mr IPL- believes that if Gill goes on to win an IPL title, it will not only boost his confidence but also earn massive respect in the dressing room.
'Young players think differently these days. Gill is searching for that IPL trophy. If he goes on to lead in Tests after winning the IPL, he will not only flourish, but he will also get a lot of respect in the dressing room.
'There is no Virat or Rohit now, they used to look to the opposition in the eye and put them under pressure. That comes with energy, character and body language. Shubman has that," Raina said in the JioHotstar Press Room.
It may still be a work in progress, but with every game, Gill is shaping himself into a leader. And if the voices around him — from coaches and teammates to legends of the game — are any indication, Indian cricket could well be witnessing the rise of its next long-term captain.
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