Too soon or perfect timing? Experts weigh in on Shubman Gill's elevation as India Test captain
MUMBAI: Shubman Gill's elevation to the Test captaincy may have taken a few by surprise, but TOI can confirm it was a project long in the making by India's selectors.
In fact, during India's triumphant run in the T20 World Cup in June last year in the USA and West Indies, when he was not even part of the squad but a travelling reserve, a source had told this paper that 'Gill was being looked at as a future India captain'.
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The first indication came immediately after that tournament, when he was appointed captain for the five-match T20I series in Zimbabwe in July, which India won 4-1. India's head coach at the time, Rahul Dravid, was on board with the decision to elevate Gill.
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Giving a thumbs-up to the decision to hand the Test captaincy to the 25-year-old, who hails from Fazilka in Punjab, former India pacer and ex-national selector Salil Ankola told TOI, 'He's the best choice for India's Test captaincy because he's young, dynamic, and needs that confidence to keep going.
He's got the right frame of mind. However, I feel he should've been given the Test captaincy earlier, when Rohit and Virat were still part of the team.
'
Shubman Gill story: From a remote village near the border to India's Test captain
'The way Shubman has adapted to the leadership role in GT has been a revelation, and it was obvious he was destined for bigger responsibilities,' said Arvinder Singh Lovely, CEO of Gujarat Titans.
Offering a guarded perspective on the bold call, former India skipper Dilip Vengsarkar said, 'Since they've taken this decision, they clearly believe in Gill's leadership abilities and that it's the right time to groom him for the mantle of captaincy.
We'll have to wait and see how things unfold in England. As a batsman, he's top-class and has been around for a while.'
For someone who first spotted Gill way back in 2011, when the batter was just 12, former India seamer Karsan Ghavri isn't so sure about this call.
'Leading the Test team is a different cup of tea compared to leading GT. There'll be tremendous pressure on him as a batsman and added responsibility as a captain. How he handles it remains to be seen. He'll be leading a very young, inexperienced team. To beat England will be a herculean task,' Ghavri said.
India Test squad for England tour: Shubman Gill to lead, Rishabh Pant his deputy
SHUBMAN GILL AS CAPTAIN
Captained in 5 T20Is vs Zimbabwe in July 2024. India won the series 4-1.
Has captained in five first-class matches, winning 1, drawing 2 and losing 2. Led 3 games in the Duleep Trophy, in 2019-20 (drawn two) and 2024-25 (lost one). Also led India 'A' vs S Africa 'A' in Karyavattom in 2019, winning by 7 wickets.
Led Punjab in 1 Ranji match vs Karnataka in Jan 2025 (lost).
In the IPL, he has led Gujarat Titans 25 times, winning 14 & losing 11 (56% wins).
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Rajesh Kumar
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