Shubman Gill Takes Advice From Former Coaches As He Embarks On New Chapter As India's Test Skipper

Shubman Gill embarked on a new journey as India's Test captain following the departure of Rohit Sharma from the format. The young batter who is embarking on his first journey as a leader has already displayed pillar-like performances with the bat. He has made 607 runs in just three matches in the current Test series against England. Yet the journey as a captain has not been totally smooth for India is now behind 1-2 in the five-match series. Even though his batting has been a reassuring sign his captaincy skills are now being watched closely.

Former Indian head coach Gary Kirsten has endorsed Gill and stated that it's early days but he finds a lot of potential in the young man. Kirsten opined that to be a good captain needs much more than making runs. He feels that Gill needs to concentrate on managing people well and treating the dressing room with care and shrewdness. He remembered how MS Dhoni was such a wonderful man manager when he was captain and how that contributed to India winning major success in all forms of the game. Kirsten added that Dhoni had a wonderful skill of knowing players backing them and holding the team together in adverse circumstances. He feels that if Gill can work on this aspect he has all the material to be a future great captain of India.

Gill is also famous for being very calm and composed while on the field. He is a person who overthinks the game and also understands cricket very well. But as per Kirsten, captaincy isn't all about planning or scoring runs. It is also about uniting the team and making the players confident and making all of them work towards a particular motive. How Dhoni played under pressure and how he managed his team is something which Gill could take a lesson from. Kirsten adds that if Gill is able to improve in this aspect, then he will not only be a good captain but a great one.

In another reaction to Gill's new leadership post former India coach Greg Chappell also stated that the next Test at Old Trafford against England will be Gill's biggest test so far as a captain. He noted that this Test will be an actual test of not only Gill's batting abilities but also of his pressurized leadership. Chappell feels that Gill has to provide a sense of calm and sound thinking to the side because India cannot lose this important game. The series is at stake and Gill has to prove that he is mature enough and capable of making intelligent decisions.

Chappell further said that Gill does not have to suppress his emotions during a match. Actually he had said that the manner in which Gill displayed passion during the Lord's Test was a positive omen. But he also cautioned that merely displaying passion is not sufficient. It has to be accompanied by serious preparation hard work and robust planning behind the scenes. A good captain is one who gains the right to be vocal and expressive by working hard when no one is looking. As per Chappell, motivating the team and keeping all the players together must be Gill's priority at this point.

We need to keep in mind that Shubman Gill is still fairly fresh to his captaincy role. He is learning day by day and adjusting to the requirements of leadership. Captaincy of a team like India has enormous responsibilities and immense pressure particularly in a format such as Test cricket. It is a long process and every choice every session and every game contributes to a captain's development. Although it might not be easy at first there is still time for Gill to get accustomed to the role and to carve out his own leadership style.

Captainship in Test cricket entails responsibility not only towards performance but also towards team culture. It is not about bowling adjustments or picking and choosing who bats where. It is about managing players' emotions providing them with confidence supporting them through poor periods and getting the best out of every individual. MS Dhoni excelled at doing all this and now everyone's expecting Gill to pick up gradually and become that type of leader as well.

That experienced names such as Kirsten and Chappell are speaking out about Gill indicates that he has impressed individuals who have witnessed the best of international cricket. Their guidance is worth it because they know what it takes to thrive in such a harsh and competitive scene. Both of them have worked as coaches of Indian teams and have been closely associated with some of the biggest cricket names. Their endorsement indicates that they believe in Gill and that he has the potential to overcome the challenges that are to come.

It will not be an easy ride and there will be times when things do not work out. But the most important thing is how Gill reacts to such difficult situations. If he can remain focused work diligently and learn from each experience there is little doubt that he will become a dependable and motivational captain of India. The upcoming few matches the Test at Old Trafford will be crucial in defining his initial leadership path. If Gill is able to combine his batting prowess and develop as a leader it would be thrilling to see how he takes India into a new era of Test cricket.