IPL 2025: Gill Shares Insights on His Captaincy Journey
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Synopsis
As Shubman Gill embarks on his second IPL season as Gujarat Titans' captain, he reflects on his evolving leadership role, emphasizing continuous learning and the importance of understanding his teammates.
Key Takeaways
- Continuous learning is vital for leadership.
- Understanding each player's unique perspective enhances team dynamics.
- Effective communication fosters a strong team environment.
- Separating captaincy from batting roles is essential for performance.
- Experience from wins and losses shapes a leader's approach.
New Delhi, March 19 (NationPress) As he prepares for his second IPL season at the helm of the Gujarat Titans, opener Shubman Gill emphasized that his journey in captaincy is an ongoing process, remarking that he acquires fresh insights with every match and every week in the league.
Under the leadership of Hardik Pandya, the Gujarat Titans clinched the 2022 IPL title and finished as runners-up the following season. However, after Pandya transitioned to the Mumbai Indians and Gill took over as the new captain, the team struggled last year, finishing eighth in the league with five wins, seven losses, and two matches abandoned due to rain.
"Leadership is a continuous journey. You gain new insights with every match and week. Different players contribute unique perspectives, teaching you not only about leadership but also about themselves. As a leader, it's crucial to understand what enables each player to perform at their best," Gill stated.
“Each player is unique, and effective leadership involves managing them appropriately. Recognizing their strengths, weaknesses, and finding ways to help them regain form during tough times is essential. The more you play, the more experience you gather through various challenges, which ultimately shapes your leadership style. Engaging in one-on-one discussions with teammates is vital.
“Initially, I wasn't naturally inclined to engage in such dialogues, but as a leader, I made a conscious effort. It's important to communicate with players, understand their mindset, and ensure they feel appreciated. When a team leader reaches out, it fosters confidence among players and contributes to a robust team environment," he added during an interview on JioHotstar.
Before taking on the captaincy of GT, Gill accumulated 483 and 890 runs in the IPL 2022 and 2023 seasons, respectively. However, as GT’s captain in IPL 2024, he scored 426 runs. When asked if captaincy imposes additional responsibilities beyond his batting performance, Gill expressed the importance of delineating his leadership and batting roles.
"As a batsman, when you're on the field, your primary focus should be on your batting. If you let thoughts of leadership responsibilities creep in during your batting, it can detract from your performance. Batting is an individual struggle against the bowler, whereas fielding requires collective effort. Leadership significantly impacts fielding and team strategies.
“Whether I am captain or not, my role when batting remains unchanged – to secure victories for my team. Last year, there were moments when I overanalyzed situations, which hindered my performance. The key lesson for me has been to distinguish captaincy from batting and approach my game with a clear focus," he concluded.
