Emerging star Shubman Gill is set to take on a new challenge, as reports suggest he will captain Team India for the first time during their upcoming tour of Zimbabwe. The Men in Blue are scheduled to play five T20Is, kicking off on July 6.
Gill, who was recently part of the Indian squad’s reserves for the ongoing T20 World Cup, was released after the group stages along with Avesh Khan. Despite not making it to the main squad—where India chose to open with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, with Yashasvi Jaiswal as an option on the bench—Gill’s leadership potential is now being recognized.
Before the World Cup, Gill had his first major captaincy stint with the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL). He stepped into the role following Hardik Pandya’s surprising move to the Mumbai Indians (MI).
Initially, it appeared that Hardik Pandya or Suryakumar Yadav would lead the second-string side, as they have in recent tours. However, according to a report by the Indian Express, the team management plans to rest them ahead of the busy home season.
Shubman Gill’s Debut Season as GT Captain
In his debut season as GT captain, Gill led the team to five victories. He faced significant challenges, including the absence of strike bowler Mohammed Shami. In his first match as captain, Gill secured a win against his former skipper, Hardik Pandya.
The young captain navigated a difficult season, making the most of the resources available and earning praise for his leadership. GT ended the season with five wins and seven losses, finishing eighth on the league table with 12 points.
Now, Gill faces the task of leading a second-string Indian side featuring several in-form IPL players. With Rahul Dravid’s contract ending right after the 2024 T20 World Cup and a new head coach expected to start from the Sri Lanka tour, Gill is likely to be supported by VVS Laxman as head coach for the Zimbabwe tour.
