Is Gill Ready to Embrace the Challenges of Captaincy?

New Delhi, May 24 (NationPress) Shubman Gill has quickly become a pivotal figure in India's leadership landscape over the past year. In July, after his first complete season as captain of the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Gill led India to a convincing 4-1 victory in a five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe.

His unexpected rise to the vice-captaincy during the Sri Lanka tour was followed by maintaining that role for the home series against England and ultimately contributing to the 2025 Champions Trophy victory. With Rohit Sharma's recent retirement from Test cricket, Gill has emerged as the leading candidate for the Test captaincy.

This appointment was officially confirmed when chief selector Ajit Agarkar named him as India's 37th Test captain on Saturday. Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Gill's mentor and former teammate from their Ranji Trophy days, views this as a significant milestone.

“Appointing a young captain ahead of a major tour reflects the faith and trust in Shubman's leadership abilities. This responsibility placed on his young shoulders indicates the Indian team management's confidence in him,” said Gurkeerat.

“Shubman possesses a very stable head on his shoulders and will manage the captaincy effectively. We are thrilled for him, as his years of hard work and perseverance are finally being acknowledged. I hope he excels in this new role for India,” Gurkeerat expressed during an exclusive chat with IANS on Saturday.

Although Gurkeerat was aware of the rising Test captaincy speculations, he and Gill did not discuss it. Having played together in the IPL 2022 championship-winning Gujarat Titans team, Gurkeerat observed Gill’s determination to make an impact this season.

“He isn’t overly concerned about Test captaincy discussions right now, as his primary focus is the ongoing IPL, which is a crucial tournament. I sense he has a point to prove in this IPL,” he remarked.

Gurkeerat acknowledged the pressure that comes with representing India, especially in today's world of social media, which adds to the expectations on young players like Gill.

“The transformation we’ve observed in him over the last year has been remarkable. From the moment he joined the team, his work ethic was commendable, and now everyone recognizes that he has developed strong discipline, yielding impressive results,” Gurkeerat noted.

Their journey began when Gurkeerat met Gill as a young boy in Mohali, who had moved from Chak Jaimal Singh Wala village in Punjab’s Fazilka district. Gill's ambition to excel in batting was supported by his father, Lakhwinder, who ensured he had a solid foundation and access to Mohali's premier facilities.

Gurkeerat fondly recalls Gill’s quiet demeanor paired with an unwavering dedication to his craft from the very beginning. “The relentless effort he has put in, along with the guidance from his uncle, has begun to pay off. Upon entering the Punjab setup, he immediately made a mark in junior cricket and performed admirably for the India U19 team,” he recounted.

“He was scoring heavily in junior cricket, and once he transitioned to the senior team, he continued to excel. His impressive performance earned him admiration from senior players in the Punjab squad. He scored a century in just his second game of the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2017, establishing himself as a key player,” Gurkeerat added.

He emphasized that Gill’s career growth has only fueled his commitment to the sport. “While his work ethic remains consistent, his determination has intensified. Even now, he practices for two hours in the nets before each game,” Gurkeerat shared.

“His enthusiasm and drive to perform for India continue to grow. With the added responsibility of Test captaincy, I believe he will be even more focused. His practice sessions revolve around identifying areas to improve based on varying pitch conditions,” he explained.

Growing up near Mohali’s PCA Stadium inspired Gill’s ambition to represent India. As the new Test captain at 25, he will face a significant challenge on the England tour beginning June 20.

As a developing leader, Gill will navigate the complexities of Test captaincy while striving to enhance his overseas batting record and deciding his batting position.

This period is both challenging and exciting for Indian Test cricket, and Gurkeerat believes Gill’s swift ascent in leadership over the past year will guide the revamped Test team to success moving forward.

“We’ve witnessed the next generation stepping up following the retirement of legends. This is a remarkably young team. I hope this group advances Indian Test cricket, as Shubman’s passion for the format can elevate the team to new heights, similar to Virat Kohli’s leadership,” Gurkeerat concluded.