How Has Shubman Gill Excelled as Captain in IPL 2025?

Mumbai, May 5 (NationPress) Vikram Solanki, the Director of Cricket for Gujarat Titans, has praised Shubman Gill’s captaincy and explored the dynamics that make the opening duo of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan so formidable.

Under the leadership of Hardik Pandya, Gujarat clinched the title in their debut season in 2022. In the subsequent season, they finished as runners-up after being defeated by Chennai Super Kings. Following Pandya's transfer to Mumbai Indians, the captaincy transitioned to Gill. Doubts arose after his initial season at the helm saw the team finish in 8th place.

However, this season, Gill has taken charge effectively as GT remains a strong contender for IPL playoffs.

“He is a remarkable batsman with an incredibly promising future, but what’s impressive is his growth in leadership. He has truly embraced his role as captain, which is fantastic to observe. When you have someone as gifted and talented as Shubman, there can be worries about the pressure of leadership,” remarked Solanki during the pre-match press conference.

Gujarat is set to face Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday, with the opportunity to surpass Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the standings. Both MI and GT are currently tied in points at third and fourth place, each having won seven matches, though MI has played one additional game.

A significant part of Gujarat Titans’ success this season is due to the opening partnership of Sudharsan and Gill. Together, they have amassed 628 runs over 10 matches, making them the most successful opening pair in the tournament thus far.

“Their approach to the game is quite similar. They rely on traditional methods when setting themselves up. Fundamentally, they possess solid techniques and an understanding of facing the new ball, which can be challenging,” Solanki added.

“Both have experience opening in red-ball cricket, where their techniques are tested. This experience has been invaluable as they continue to develop their partnership.”

“They complement each other excellently, particularly with the left-hand, right-hand combination. Their growing understanding of each other’s games allows them to support one another effectively. If there’s one key aspect to highlight, it’s their unwavering determination and dedication to their craft,” he concluded.

Currently, Gill has scored 465 runs in 10 matches, trailing only Jos Buttler, who has 460 runs, and Sai Sudharsan, who is just one run behind Virat Kohli in the race for the Orange Cap.