Inside Story: Shubman Gill Groomed for Captaincy, But IPL T20 Leadership Goes Elsewhere

New Delhi: Shubman Gill, the current Test and ODI captain of India, has long been earmarked for leadership responsibilities. However, in the IPL T20 format, the young star holds only the vice-captaincy. The story behind this decision reveals careful long-term planning by the team management.

Gill’s Rise to Leadership

When Rohit Sharma unexpectedly retired from Test cricket midway through IPL 2025, Shubman Gill was entrusted with the captaincy for India’s England tour. Management also had options like Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant, but Gill was chosen due to his consistent performance and maturity. Ahead of the Australia tour, Rohit was also relieved of his ODI captaincy, and Gill was handed the reins. Despite struggles in T20s, Gill continues to be seen as the future captain in all formats.

Former Selector Salil Ankolekar Speaks

Former BCCI selector Salil Ankolekar revealed that Gill had been earmarked as India’s future captain as early as 2023. That year, Gill had made a mark in world cricket with consecutive centuries and a double century. Even after missing two World Cup matches due to dengue, he scored over 350 runs in nine innings. According to Ankolekar, selectors, senior players, and team management believed that Gill was the natural choice to lead India once Rohit stepped down. On Vicky Lalwani’s YouTube channel, Ankolekar stated, “We always knew Gill would one day captain India. By 2023, he was already on our leadership radar. Everyone—from coaches to senior players—felt he was the right person.”

Thriving Under Pressure

Gill made an instant impact in his first Test series as captain. On England’s tour, he amassed 756 runs in 5 matches, helping India draw the series 2-2. In contrast, India suffered a heavy defeat against South Africa when Gill did not play. Ankolekar highlighted Gill’s mental toughness, saying, “Scoring 750 runs in England under pressure shows his resilience. People often think they know more, but performance under pressure speaks volumes.”