Will Shubman Gill be the next Test captain? (PC-AFP)
New Delhi, After losing the final of the World Test Championship, a question is constantly arising whether Rohit Sharma will lead Team India in the World Test Championship 2023-25 as well? Or does Team India need a new captain? Even if Rohit Sharma relinquishes the Test captaincy, then who will be the leader of the team after him? At present, no one has the answer to these questions, but it is not that there is no answer to it.
Shubman Gill is seen as the biggest contender to become the future captain in the current Test team. You must be shocked after reading Shubman’s name, but the circumstances are pointing in this direction. Let us tell you how Shubman Gill can lead Team India and how can he be given the responsibility of vice-captain before being made the captain?
Shubman Gill to become Test vice-captain?
There are many options to become the next captain of the Test team after Rohit Sharma. These include names like Jaspreet Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer. But the biggest problem with these three players is their fitness. Bumrah is constantly getting injured. Same problem with Shreyas Iyer. Pant has been a victim of a big accident, so when will he return and how will his form be after coming back is a big issue. Apart from these, Ajinkya Rahane has made a comeback in the team but he is 35 years old. Cheteshwar Pujara is definitely a senior player but his place in the team is in danger. Ashwin is not given a chance in every match, so in such a situation, he is also seen away from the captaincy race. In such a situation, there is only one name which stands true in terms of fitness, form and age, and that is Shubman Gill.
Does Shubman Gill have the guts to be the captain?
Shubman Gill has neither captained at the Under-19 level nor has he led the India A team. Nor was he the captain in Ranji, but he was definitely the vice-captain of the team that won the Under-19 World Cup in 2018. Also, Gill has a deep understanding of the game. He knows how to play according to the situation and this quality can make him the captain. However, before becoming the captain, he should be made the vice-captain of Team India so that he can learn from Rohit Sharma.
Shubman Gill has the age and fitness
Shubman Gill is only 23 years old and the Indian team currently needs such a young player who can lead the team for a long time. There are many such examples in history when very young players have been given the command of the Test team. The biggest name among them is that of Graeme Smith, who became the South African Test captain at the age of 22 years, 82 days and let us tell you that he is also the captain who won the most matches in this format.
Not only Graeme Smith, India has also handed over the captaincy to a mere 21-year-old player. We are talking about Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. This veteran became the captain at the age of just 21 years and 77 days.
Shubman Gill has fitness
Not only age, Gill’s fitness also inspires him to become the captain. Although any player can be unfit in the game, but Gill is an excellent athlete and his body does not appear to be injury prone. Seeing the way in which he plays long innings without cramps, it is clear that this player is the owner of amazing fitness.
Shubman Gill’s talent is amazing
Apart from age and fitness, Gill also has amazing batting. Shubman Gill has made the whole world aware of his talent. In the last one year, Gill has played 38 innings in all three formats and has scored 7 centuries and 5 half-centuries with his bat. During this, his average has been more than 55, which is really amazing. Many cricket experts have told him the next best batsman of Team India after Virat Kohli. It is clear that Gill is proving himself on every front and Team India Management should now groom him as the future captain.
