''I was watching his press conference.....'' -Ashwin lauds india captain Shubman Gill’s authenticity at pressers

Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has praised the young Test captain of India, Shubman Gill, for being real and composed at press conferences, especially when the stakes were very high during the tour of England. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin commended Gill's natural tone in displaying his leadership qualities and his lack of attempt to imitate a contrived image to the media.

“Shubman has a natural flair. I was watching his press conference, and I immediately found that he is not putting on a show. He is talking like who he is. He is leading the team according to his natural self and skills,” Ashwin remarked. The off-spinner, who recently announced his retirement midway through India’s tour of Australia last December, pointed out the unique challenge captains face in overseas conditions, particularly from the media.

“In overseas tours, the media tries to target the captain because if you bring the captain down, it becomes easy to bring the team down. You can get them to fall like nine pins if you go after the captain,” Ashwin added. Ashwin’s comments come during a crucial moment in Indian cricket, with Shubman Gill captaining the national team in a Test series for the first time. The 25-year-old opener has not only stepped up with the bat, scoring a staggering 585 runs in just two Tests, but has also shown poise in handling the media spotlight and leadership pressure.

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Ashwin praises Gill for being genuine and confident in his first Test series as India captain

Ashwin also made an interesting observation on the media training most athletes undergo and how Gill appears to defy that norm. “Don’t take it out of context, but a lot of players are coached about what to say and what to do. That doesn’t seem to be the case with Shubman Gill. He looks like a man who is doing what he believes in,” Ashwin said.

Gill’s leadership credentials were already on display earlier this year when he guided Gujarat Titans to the IPL playoffs in only his second season as skipper. He also led a young Indian side to a convincing 4-1 ODI series win over Zimbabwe in 2024.

As India prepares for the third and decisive Test at Lord’s, scheduled to begin on Thursday with the series locked at 1-1, Gill’s form and leadership remain at the heart of their campaign. His commanding presence at the crease and straightforward attitude off it have earned him admiration from both fans and seasoned veterans like Ashwin.

With his batting average soaring close to 150 in the series and a calm head on his shoulders, Gill is fast establishing himself as a reliable long-term leader for Indian cricket, not just in performance, but in personality too.