Which trait can help Shubman Gill become a great captain like MS Dhoni? Gary Kirsten tells

The journey of 25-year-old Shubman Gill as India's Test captain has only just begun. At his young age, the right-handed batter assumed leadership of the Indian Test side following the retirement of Rohit Sharma from the longest format. Though Gill has made a promising start in the India vs England series, he’s still finding his rhythm in the high-stakes role. His leadership skills were put to the test during the Lord’s Test, where a rare flash of temper surfaced when he lost his cool at Zak Crawley for intentionally stalling play.

As the intense India vs England Test series continues, with India currently trailing 1-2 in the five-match series, Gill has been advised to emulate a key leadership trait of MS Dhoni. The youngster has been pointed to the quality he needs to learn if he aims to establish himself as a top-tier captain. Former South African opener Gary Kirsten, who coached India during their victorious 2011 World Cup campaign, emphasized the importance of captaincy management and pointed to Dhoni’s calm and composed style as a model for Gill.

“Well, it's early days. I think he's got great potential. Captaincy is a whole lot of things that you've got to put together. He's a great thinker in the game. He's a good player himself. But there's a whole bunch of things you've got to get right. And I think man management is going to play, like any leader,” Kirsten said. “Dhoni was an incredible man-manager. If he can get that component of his leadership really fired up, I think he has all the credentials to become a great captain for India,” he added. 

Notably, Kirsten has worked closely with Shubman Gill, having been part of the Gujarat Titans coaching staff from IPL 2022 to 2024. Consequently, Kirsten is equipped with an in-depth understanding of the youngster’s temperament and potential. As for the youngster, Gill's stint as Test captain began with a flourish. He marked his debut with a brilliant 147 in the first innings of the Headingley Test. He followed it up with two more substantial knocks, 269 and 161, at Edgbaston, playing a pivotal role in helping India square the series 1-1. 

The Indian skipper amassed a staggering 430 runs in that match alone. However, his form dipped at Lord’s, where England’s bowlers managed to exploit his vulnerabilities early in the innings. India will aim to bounce back when they face the hosts in the next India vs England Test, scheduled to begin on Wednesday, July 23, in Manchester.