The subject of who will be India’s next Test captain has been raised since Rohit Sharma recently announced his retirement from the game’s longest format. Star hitter Shubman Gill has been stepping up to take on the responsibilities. Ashish Kapoor, the assistant coach for the Gujarat Titans (GT), recently commended Gill’s cricket acumen and discussed his leadership abilities.
With a commanding 10-wicket victory over the Delhi Capitals, Gill, who is currently captaining the Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2025, recently led his club to the playoffs. B. Sai Sudharsan’s strong 108* off just 61 balls and his undefeated 93-run knock guaranteed the Titans a spot in the knockout stages. Kapoor, who has known Gill since the Under-16 days, showered him with accolades after the game.
“I believe Shubman is a good thinker of his own game if you view him as a batsman, or essentially as a cricket player, regardless of whether he is a smart thinker or not. I’ve known him from the days of the Under-16. I’ve actually worked with him at the NCA on two camps. He was far more intelligent than many people his age, even in those days. And that’s a crucial trait for a captain to plan how to win games and not only think for themselves but also for the ten other players,” Kapoor stated during the press conference held after the game on Sunday night.
“You must watch a player before you can judge them.” Kapoor on Shubman
Notably, Team India will shortly begin getting ready for the England five-Test series. The selectors are anticipated to appoint a new red-ball captain shortly, and the away tour will start on June 20. Gill has become the clear favourite, but Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul are still in the running. The management thinks he possesses the skills necessary to become a long-term leader. But Kapoor emphasised that expectations and comparisons should be avoided.
“I don’t practise astrology. Even though we’re witnessing him dominate T20 cricket, Dhoni had never held a captaincy position before to being selected for the World Cup. The former India spinner claimed that no one could have predicted that he would grow up to be one of the greatest leaders in the world. There wouldn’t have been a response if you had asked anyone at the time—not even Dhoni himself—what they thought of his captaincy. Before passing judgement on a player, you must watch them for a while. It’s really hard to say because Shubman hasn’t even begun yet,” he continued.
In the meantime, the child has shown composure in his leadership during the IPL. The Punjab batsman is expected to be chosen as India’s new Test captain because Rahul is viewed more as a short-term solution and Bumrah’s fitness is a problem.
India
