Shubman Gill informed about taking ODI captaincy before India vs West Indies Test
Shubman Gill, knowing he would succeed Rohit Sharma as ODI captain before the West Indies Test, is focused on handling leadership pressures and leading the team to victories in upcoming matches.
Removing Rohit Sharma as India’s ODI captain, especially after he led the team to a Champions Trophy triumph in his final outing, was never going to be a spontaneous decision. The magnitude of such a move meant careful planning and consideration were necessary.
The Indian selection committee, with Ajit Agarkar at the helm and head coach Gautam Gambhir alongside other BCCI decision-makers, deliberated extensively on the change. They weighed the impact on the team, Rohit’s legacy, and the future direction of Indian cricket.
After thorough discussions, the committee concluded that it was time for a new leadership chapter. Shubman Gill was chosen to take over the ODI captaincy, signaling a transition aimed at grooming him for a long-term leadership role across formats.
Shubman Gill on Getting ODI Captaincy:
Shubman Gill confirmed that he was aware of his elevation to India’s ODI captaincy before it became public. He learned about the decision a few days ahead of the first Test against the West Indies, even though the official announcement was made only after India’s convincing two-and-a-half-day victory.
Taking over from Rohit Sharma, Gill, 25, is set to lead the team in the 50-over format for the first time. His captaincy journey will begin with the upcoming ODI series against Australia later this month, marking a significant step in his leadership career and the team’s transition.
He said, “ Yes, it was announced in the middle of a Test match but I got to know a little before that. It obviously is a big responsibility and an even bigger honour. So, very excited to lead my country in that format.”
Already captaining India in Tests, Gill described the last few months as a whirlwind of change but emphasized that his attention is now entirely on the road ahead, preparing for upcoming challenges and opportunities in international cricket.
He further said, “ The last few months have been very exciting for me. But I'm really looking forward to what the future has. I want to stay as present as possible and don’t really want to look back on what I've been able to achieve or what we as a team have been able to achieve. Just want to look forward and win everything that we have in the upcoming months.”
Shubman Gill Talks about Challenges of Leading in All Formats:
The young captain spoke about the challenges of leading in all three formats, highlighting the mental and physical strain. He acknowledged the high expectations he sets for himself and the pressure that comes with juggling multiple responsibilities on the international stage.
He said, “ Yes, I think more than physically. Most of the time, I feel fine, but sometimes there is mental fatigue. When you are constantly playing, there is obviously a certain expectation that I have for myself. To be able to keep up with my own expectations sometimes becomes a challenge.”
He added, “ But I think that’s the challenge — to be able to play all the formats for India. I want to play all the formats and succeed in all the formats for the country and win ICC titles. So if I want to do that, then this is the challenge that I have to go through.”
Shubman Gill on his Relationship with Team:
Gill’s promotion to ODI captain is viewed as a step in India’s larger transition under coach Gautam Gambhir, focusing on long-term strategy and squad stability. He added that his rapport with the team is built on open, honest, and practical communication, helping maintain clarity and trust within the dressing room.
He said, “ Our relation is really good. It's very simple actually. We always try to have conversations around how we can make the players feel more secure and what kind of combinations we can play.”
Gill further emphasized that the team aims to develop a solid and reliable core group of players, with special attention on nurturing fast bowlers. Strengthening this department is seen as crucial for maintaining balance, competitiveness, and long-term stability across all formats of international cricket.
He concluded, “ We sort of want to look at an 18 or 15-member squad where we are picking constantly from that bunch. And one of the key things that we discuss is how we can build our fast bowlers. We have a pool of good fast bowlers and we want to be able to keep recruiting them so that they get enough opportunities to come whenever we tour South Africa, Australia or New Zealand.”
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