Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir praised Gill’s rise to the ODI captaincy, replacing Rohit Sharma, saying the 26-year-old “fully deserves” the role. With the next ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa just two years away, India have already started preparing for the tournament.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made a significant move in reshaping the Indian side by handing the ODI captaincy to Gill. His first assignment will be a three-match ODI series in Australia, starting Sunday, October 19.
Shubman Gill ascent across formats has been swift. After leading the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for two seasons, he was appointed India’s Test captain in May and now has taken over the ODI reins. He also continues as the vice-captain in T20Is.
While some feel the transition to captaincy has been rapid, Gambhir believes Shubman Gill has earned it.
“I think he deserves every bit of it. He’s worked hard, ticks all the boxes, and as a coach, I value someone who says the right things, works hard, shows commitment, and leads by example. He’s often the first on the field and always puts his body on the line—what more can a coach ask for? I know it’s not easy for him,” Gambhir told ANI.
Gambhir added, “England was probably the toughest Test for him. Five Tests in just over two months against a strong England side, with an intimidating batting lineup and an inexperienced Indian team—what more could he have faced?”
Shubman Gill responded to the challenge brilliantly, scoring 754 runs in 10 innings, including four centuries, with a highest score of 269, leading India from the front.
“You earn respect not just with runs, but with the right words”: Gautam Gambhir on Indian dressing room’s positive response to Shubman Gill as captain
Gautam Gambhir praised Shubman Gill for more than just his batting, highlighting how his leadership and communication won over the Indian dressing room. While runs on the board naturally earn respect, Gambhir emphasized that words and actions off the field matter just as much.
“But the way he’s conducted himself, and more importantly, how he’s led the team—and how the team has responded to him—is remarkable. Often, the focus is solely on the captain, but the team’s response to his leadership is equally significant. Credit goes to the entire group in that dressing room,” Gambhir said.
“Yes, scoring runs earns respect, but saying the right things and leading by example is just as important. Actions speak louder than performances alone. He’s done phenomenally well, and so has the entire group,” he added.
Under Gill’s captaincy, India recently celebrated a milestone, securing a 2-0 series win over the West Indies at home—his first test series triumph as captain.
