VISION GILL: Shubman Gill sets an example by scoring 754 runs and fixing his own leadership template
Shubman Gill has arrived, that is for sure. As the India captain led with flourish and India ensured India drew the series 2-2 with England for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, comparisons are being made with past greats. First things first, comparisons are unnecessary. Shubman is Shubman, don’t compare him with Don Bradman and how many runs he scored. Yes, Gill is special, he has blossomed, as a batter first and then captain for the first time in a hard Test series in England. To score 754 runs, which is certainly an achievement of Himalayan heights does not mean he has to be compared with anyone, the great Don included.
Rewind to the time when Shubman Gill was ignored for the ICC T20 World Cup last year. Rewind to the BGT Series in Australia, where Gill was average. What is that has made him standout as a batter in England, where one did feel, the burden of captaincy would be heavy. Unlike a few others, the bat which Gill uses with that MRF logo catching the eye is not heavy. He has made adjustments in his technique in England while batting. That was pronounced, though, for the common fan, what mattered was runs scored. It was heavy, with centuries and a double ton unleashed with relish.
For those in the BCCI, coach Gautam Gambhir and chairman selection committee, Ajit Agarkar included, kudos for spotting the talent in Gill as a leader. He had taken over the reins at a hard time. A lot of us, including this writer, felt the transition from past greats like Virat Kohli to Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah not being allowed to play all five Tests due to workload management would impede Gill. To borrow from a recent quote from legends MS Dhoni during the 2025 edition of the IPL, Mahi had said a captain must earn his place in the side by sheer weight of performance. And that is what Gill has done, score runs, which has come in for lavish praise from even the Englishmen. And on the last day at The Oval, Gill was in control of his emotions. That was a sign of maturity and how he has taken on the leadership role without fuss.
Rewind to the scrappy series in Australia, there was so much bad blood. Dressing rooms leaks, players being castigated for taking their wives along Down Under, it was chaos. Maybe, Gill is lucky, he did not have to deal with legends in his side. One is not suggesting a Kohli or Rohit would have created problems for the new skipper. The fact is, the BCCI has decided it is time to move on. And the 2-2 series result is definitely proof that the timing of retirements, by choice or forced, was not bad.
Hearing multiple press conferences on Monday and how the English media has also reacted, Gill has emerged as a rock star. The sheer runs he scored at different venues under pressure, including a double ton has been defining. It showed, he had prepared. In an official interview with the broadcaster, KL Rahul has also spoken of how Gill has led and even he, too, did contribute with inputs.
And at a time when Gill had Rishabh Pant as his deputy for four Tests, it is clear, the new India skipper has handled the boys well. We have not heard any stories of bitterness or rough talk. In fact, despite some players being on the bench all along, Gill has ensured there is no rancour. If Gill has presented a vision document in this series, it has been on the field. There were some stages where messages were coming from the dressing room, where coach Gautam Gambhir was seated. Gill knew he had to take the calls and decide which bowlers could be pressed hard. The workload shouldered by Mohd Siraj has been mind-blowing. And if you did not hear Siraj’s emotional press conference, please do.
To be sure, Gill has taken on two roles, as prime batter in sublime form and as someone who will take the team along as a paragon. He knows, critics are watching every action of his. But then, as skipper of Gujarat Titans in the IPL since 2024, Gill has learnt to stay cool and score. Captaincy is an art, not science. There are various leadership styles. So far, Gill looks Teflon-coated. Who would have imagined, a bloke from Punjab who was always touted as talented would blossom!
Where does Gill go from here? It may be presumptuous, but there is every reason to believe the BCCI may seriously consider Shubman Gill as the next ODI captain. That will mean Rohit Sharma faces anxious moments. Gill is in command, and he has shown, pressure is not going to affect him. A new leader who smiles non-stop has won millions of hearts. Rise and clap for Shubman Gill.
