2025 has proved to be Shubman Gill's year as the versatile Indian batter has been handed over the captaincy of the Indian Test and ODI teams.
The process started in the summer after veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their retirements from the red-ball format. Naturally, India needed a new leader for the Test team and Gill was picked as skipper.
Gill passed his first Test as captain with flying in the England tour as the new-look Indian team held the hosts to a 2-2 draw in the five-match series, while the captain himself ended up scoring more than 700 runs, breaking multiple records in the process.
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Following the England tour, Gill made a comeback to the Indian T20I side for the Asia Cup 2025 and was even appointed as a deputy to Suryakumar Yadav in the tournament. Gill's appointment as the T20 vice-captain was a clear indication that the 26-year-old was being seen as the future captain of India across all formats.
Then the bombshell announcement came earlier this month when the ODI squad for the Australia tour was announced. Gill was appointed as the new captain of the team as he replaced veteran Rohit Sharma in the role.
While there has been a lot of chatter and debate around Sharma's removal from the captaincy role and being replaced by Gill, head coach Gautam Gambhir always had the youngster's back.
Once again, ahead of the Australia tour, Gambhir has shared his opinion on Gill's leadership skills, while also sharing valuable advice for the young captain.
READ: "En route Down Under" - Sharma, Kohli & India stars leave for AUS tour
Gautam Gambhir shares valuable captaincy advice for Shubman Gill
Just days before the all-important white-ball tour of Australia, Gambhir shared his opinion on Gill's captaincy on JioHstar, as he said: "It’s still very early days—he has captained only a few Test matches so far. The most important quality I see is his ability to handle pressure and tough situations.
"Gill is very much a work in progress; he hasn’t yet faced the worst days of captaincy, which will inevitably come. It will test him personally and as a leader and I want to see how he responds when things don’t go his way."
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Gambhir also opened on his relationship with the captain as he added: "I’ve told him I’m always here to support, back, and protect him. My role as coach is to take the pressure and criticism off his shoulders, as long as he does the right things for the team and remains transparent and honest with the players inside the dressing room.
"That is the foundation for earning respect. So far, he has been absolutely brilliant—transparent, upfront, hardworking, and focused on doing the right things. What more can a coach ask of a captain who is willing to put everything on the line?”
What next for the Indian cricket team?
The Indian ODI side will play the first match of the series against old foes Australia on Sunday, October 19 at the Perth Stadium.
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