'Shubman Gill has all the ingredients to be a good leader': Robin Uthappa and Gary Kirsten back young India captain for long haul
Shubman Gill (BCCI Photo)
NEW DELHI: India's decision to hand over the Test captaincy to 25-year-old
Shubman Gill
for the upcoming five-match series against England has earned high praise from former cricketers
Robin Uthappa
and
Gary Kirsten
. With Rohit Sharma announcing his retirement from the longest format,
Gill has been entrusted with leading a new-look Indian Test squad
, beginning June 20 at Leeds.
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Robin Uthappa lauded the selectors for making a bold and long-term choice. 'You have got to give tops to that selection committee because they have gone with foresight,' Uthappa said on Star Sports. 'Shubman is just 24 or 25. If he gets this right, he could lead India for the next 10 years. That leaves Indian cricket in great hands because he is a high-quality bat.'
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Uthappa, impressed by Gill's captaincy at Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025, noted how his leadership has evolved.
'The intensity with which he functioned, the decisions he made, the way he stood up for teammates — all those qualities matter in a leader.'
He also urged patience with the young skipper. 'He's someone who will inspire performances. Give him time before judging him.'
Shubman Gill story: From a remote village near the border to India's Test captain
Echoing the sentiment, former South Africa opener and ex-India coach Gary Kirsten said Gill has all the makings of a top-tier captain. 'He is a smart cricketer with a deep understanding of the game. He is diligent in preparation and training — he'll lead by example.'
Kirsten added, 'Shubman has the raw materials to become a really good leader. I think he is primed to take the international scene by storm.'
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