Shubman Gill, one of the most complete and talented batters in world cricket, is being recognised not just for his batting prowess but also for his leadership potential. The 24-year-old, who made his India debut five years ago, has become a vital part of the team's batting lineup. His captaincy skills have also caught the attention of cricket experts and former coaches.
Gill currently leads the IPL franchise Gujarat Titans and recently captained a young Indian team to a 4-1 victory in a T20I series against Zimbabwe. Following this success, he has been named vice-captain of the Indian cricket team for the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka, where India will play three T20Is and three ODIs.
Former India batting coach Vikram Rathour has expressed his belief that Gill could one day lead the Indian team across all formats. Rathour praised Gill's leadership qualities and his ability to handle pressure effectively.
"Whatever I have seen him, be it for the Gujarat Titans or in Zimbabwe (when Gill led in a T20 series), he did a good job. He has shown terrific body language, which is a must if you are leading a side. Now with the vice-captaincy, the BCCI has given him extra responsibility, and I am sure he will thrive in this role," Rathour told The Indian Express.
Rathour further elaborated on how leadership roles have positively impacted players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and he believes the same will happen with Gill.
"I feel captaincy brought the best out of Virat and Rohit and I feel it will do the same for Shubman. Although he is not yet the captain, being in the leadership group will bring the best out of him as well. This I am very sure of. When you are in that role, leading others, it gives you that extra bit of responsibility, which is good, and I think is great for a young kid like Shubman, who one day might lead India in all three formats," Rathour added.
As Gill continues to develop his skills both as a player and a leader, his future in Indian cricket looks incredibly promising, potentially steering the team in all three formats in the years to come.