Is Shubman Gill the Long-Term ODI Captain India Has Been Looking For?
Before the ODI series against Afghanistan, Shubman Gill's captaincy has raised some issues. Under his captaincy, India has lost both ODI series against New Zealand and Australia. The Afghanistan series comes as a massive challenge for the team and Shubman Gill as a captain himself.
It is now clear to the Indian fans that it would be Shubman Gill who will lead the team in the 2027 World Cup. And since the preparations for the tournament have started, it is also necessary for Gill to prove his worth as a captain. Right before the series against Afghanistan, Aakash Chopra has made a bold claim on his captaincy.
In a recent video, he talked about how Shubman Gill is yet to prove himself as a captain in the ODI format. He said, “Shubman Gill has captained in six matches, and we have lost both series. We have won only two matches, one in Australia and one against New Zealand. So, Shubman Gill, as a captain in this format, hasn't really settled down yet.”
Aakash Chopra continued his video by saying, “That's a big story. You want to change that thing. You really want him to just stamp his authority, although he is not stopping with the bat. He has scored runs as a captain as well, and he will continue to score runs. Considering the kind of form he is in, you will look towards him to score runs.”
Our Take
It should be noted that Shubman Gill as a captain didn't have the opportunity to play with India's best ODI XI. He is yet to have Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, or any other experienced bowler in the line-up. Since the BCCI is looking for future players, Shubman Gill has found it a bit challenging to make his worth as a captain.