Shubman Gill Might Be the Next ODI Skipper After Rohit Sharma

Shubman Gill has gradually emerged as one of the most discussed names in Indian cricket and not merely for his batting skills. Following his outstanding stewardship in the recent Test series in England, former India cricketer and current commentator Mohammad Kaif has heaped praise on the young opening batsman and feels that Gill is ready to inherit the ODI captaincy from Rohit Sharma. This follows a tour where Gill demonstrated extraordinary poise both as a batter and as a skipper of a young Indian team.

In the five-match Test series in England Gill captained India for the first time. The series concluded in a 2-2 draw but what made it memorable was the circumstance under which he captained the team. A number of elder players had retired like Rohit Sharma Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin and most cricket enthusiasts did not anticipate this quite inexperienced group to play so well. But Gill who is only 25 years of age rose to the occasion and performed both as a captain and with the bat.

Kaif who has been closely watching Gill's rise had his take on his YouTube channel. He appreciated Gill's cool head and maturity displayed under pressure. Kaif noted that it is never an easy task to lead a team without big guns especially in challenging conditions like England. He further said that Shubman displayed excellent leadership and remained composed even during the toughest situations. For Kaif, this quality of remaining calm under pressure and taking intelligent decisions indicates that Gill is going to lead not just in Tests but also in ODIs. Kaif further added that it's not sure for how long Rohit Sharma will remain the captain and when his time comes Gill would be a good and worthy replacement.

Gill's series batting statistics are self-explanatory. He made a grand aggregate of 754 runs off ten innings including four hundreds. His average of 75.4 made him the top run scorer of the entire series. He started the series with a superb 147 at Leeds' Headingley which set the tone for things to come. In the following match at Birmingham's Edgbaston he made a staggering 269 in the first innings and topped it up with 161 in the second innings. This total of 430 runs in a single Test match became one of the greatest match aggregates ever in Test cricket history.

During the fourth Test at Manchester's Old Trafford Gill again saved his team by scoring a match-saving century. His 103 not out saw India escape with a draw in a game that was heading for a defeat. Due to his consistent and match-winning performances throughout the series Gill was deservedly declared Player of the Series.

Kaif also indicated that when Gill was initially announced as captain there were a lot of critics questioning the move. They wondered if he was ready and referenced his average Test record prior to the series. But Gill silenced those critics with his performances. He not only captained the team to a drawn series against England but also won hearts with his composed approach and will to succeed. As per Kaif Gill's return with the bat was so robust that at one stage individuals even began comparing his scoring runs to Sir Don Bradman's all-time records.

To captain a young side in a pressure-cooker atmosphere is no mean feat and Gill appeared to revel in the challenge and not be overwhelmed by it. His capacity to seize control of a game and produce big scores when his side needed him most indicates that he is a player who comes alive under pressure. It is a commodity that no prospective captain can do without and Gill looks like he has it in bucketloads.

Kaif's comments are all the more evidence of his belief in the young batter as a leader. He pointed out how Gill was leading a team that consisted of so many young players and still managing to provide individual performances that turned around India's matches. Scoring runs regularly in away conditions such as those in England is one thing but doing it and also having the task of captaincy is another. Gill proved that he could perform both jobs efficiently and confidently.

This tour may prove to be the turning point of Gill's career. Not only has he made himself a class act batter in all forms of the game but also demonstrated that he possesses the temperament and mindset to captain the Indian cricket team in the years to come. With ODI cricket transforming and the need for younger captains increasing globally many consider that Gill's time is imminent. If Rohit Sharma chooses to retire or concentrate on merely batting the selectors may not have to look too far for the next skipper.

Gill's transformation from a prodigious youngster to a confident captain and match-winner is something which will inspire numerous future cricketers. His calmness during games and capacity to silence his critics with his bat are precious attributes. As Kaif aptly put it a captain not only has to lead but also perform regularly and Gill did both during the series in England.

In total Shubman Gill has presented a very good case for himself as the future of Indian cricket. His recent performances have made it amply clear that he is no longer simply an emerging star but a stable leader and one of the chief pillars of the team. If he keeps this up the day may not be too far away when he is formally announced as the captain of the Indian ODI team.