With significant assignments against Australia and New Zealand coming up, as well as the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 the following year, Team India enters an important phase, particularly in Tests and ODIs. As a result, Shubman Gill, the captain, will be the focus of attention as he leads the national side in his maiden ICC competition. Former India Test captain Ajinkya Rahane, who is presently a member of the expert panel on Sony Sports Network for India’s tour of New Zealand, is satisfied with Gill’s growth as a leader since taking over in England last year.
Ajinkya Rahane, who is currently a pundit on the expert panel for India’s tour of New Zealand on Sony Sports Network, shared his evaluation on Gill’s leadership on his YouTube channel. Rahane, a former Test cricket captain of India, lavishly praised the 25-year-old’s approach to the position.
Rahane cited Gill’s ability to handle players and his on-field manner as the most notable aspects of his captaincy. He pointed out that although any player’s batting form can fluctuate, Gill stands out as a leader because of the confidence he brings to the field. Rahane also noted that Gill has been getting better with every series, making timely decisions and skillfully rotating his bowlers.
Talking on his YouTube channel, Rahane said, “Shubman’s performance, batting-wise, has been brilliant. His records tell you a story. What I like most about him, the way he plays, is his confidence. The way he walks onto the field, his attitude, that intent, is very important. Form can fluctuate. You score runs one day, you might not the next, but Shubman obviously has that confidence, and he has been scoring runs of late. But the most important thing is how he is improving as a captain with every series. He is handling the players very maturely, rotating his bowlers and making the right changes. So, those are good signs that he is growing with every series.”
Before facing the hosts in a two-match Test series, which will be crucial for Shubman Gill and company in terms of World Test Championship (WTC) points, India will play five One-Day Internationals against New Zealand. After touring New Zealand, India will play a white-ball series against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka before playing Australia in the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
