'Saw Him in IPL, He Has no Idea...': India Spinner Not in Favour of Shubman Gill Being Named Captain

Shubman Gill had his first taste of India captaincy during the recent tour of Zimbabwe where he led a young T20I squad to a 4-1 series win. Gill finished as the leading run-getter of the tour during which as many as five players made their T20I debuts.

Gill also led Gujarat Titans during IPL 2024 during which the former champions finished eighth in the 10-team competition.

Also Read: ‘Completely Fit’ Hardik Pandya to Lead India in T20Is

Gill plays all three formats for India and is also projected as the future captain but legspinner Amit Mishra isn’t impressed by his leadership skills and feel the rising stars deserves place only as a batter.

“I will not make Shubman Gill captain,” Mishra, a former India spinner, said on Shubhankar Mishra’s YouTube Podcast. “I saw him in the IPL and he does not know how to do captaincy. He has no idea. He has also not captained ever before. Why was he made the captain, well ask the selectors– kyunki India mein hai to captain banado bas? Yeh nahi hona chahiye (He shouldn’t have been made the captain).”

GT named Gill captain after he departure of Hardik Pandya who, after two highly successful seasons during which the franchise made it to the finals, joined Mumbai Indians.

The 24-year-old Gill was the highest run-getter last IPL season when GT finishes as runners-up.

“Yes, in IPL, he (Gill) has performed well in the last two years and has done decently well in T20I for India, so he merits a place as batter,” Mishra said.

When asked why the Indian selectors may have named Gill captain despite the presence of the likes of Rutuaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson, Mishra said, “Giving him the captaincy, I think it was because the team management wanted to give him that experience. They are looking for options. If not Ruturaj Gaikwad (Asian Games) then who? So that is why Gill may be have been picked as the skipper.”

Mishra even claimed that Gaikwad, who captains Chennai Super Kings in IPL, is a better batter than Gill.

“For me Ruturaj Gaikwad is a better batter than Shubman Gill. If someone is performing well, you need to give them chance. I am not a Shubman Gill hater or anything like that, I also like him a lot, but I think Ruturaj is a better player because he has scored runs in tough scenario,” the 41-year-old said.

“I felt Ruturaj should have been there as a backup player in T20 World Cup – for me, he is a complete player, he can perform in T20Is, ODIs, and Test cricket – his technique is such, his attitude is such, I see calmness in him as well,” he added.