Shubman Gill has firmly established himself as India’s captain across both Test and ODI formats, taking charge of Tests in May 2025 and ODIs in October 2025. Leading the side in 11 Test matches and 15 ODIs, the young skipper has navigated diverse series with mixed results while consistently upholding his personal batting standards.
Former Indian fast bowler Rishi Dhawan has shared his assessment of Gill’s captaincy, emphasizing the delicate balance the young leader maintains between his on-field responsibilities and personal performance. Dhawan acknowledged that assuming the captaincy typically impacts a player’s batting form, but noted that Gill has managed this challenge with remarkable effectiveness.
“Yes, definitely. As you can see, in whichever series he has captained, he has led very well. Often when players take on captaincy, it impacts their batting, but he is handling it smoothly and delivering extraordinary batting performances continuously,” Dhawan was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.
Gill’s captaincy record and batting balance
Gill’s batting record while captaining has been particularly noteworthy. In the second ODI against West Indies in Guwahati, he remained unbeaten on 223 off 133 balls, anchoring India’s chase of 406 runs. In Test cricket, Gill registered 269 against England, the highest score ever achieved by an Indian captain in the format.
Dhawan’s assessment of Gill’s captaincy skills
Gill secured his first ODI series win as captain against Afghanistan at home in June 2026, triumphing 3-0 in the three-match contest. In the longest format, India has also achieved a series-levelling tour in England and clinched a Test series victory against West Indies, demonstrating his ability to lead across varying conditions and opposition.
Dhawan expressed confidence in Gill’s future as captain, especially looking ahead to the World Cup. He highlighted that Gill would benefit significantly from the guidance and support of senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who are already integrated into the team structure. The backing of these seasoned campaigners will help the young captain succeed at the highest level of international cricket.
“I believe he has emerged very well as a captain. By 2027, he will certainly captain very well in the World Cup. Moreover, to support and guide him, Rohit bhai and Virat bhai are there, so I don’t think there will be any problems at all,” Dhawan added.
The 36-year-old also endorsed Rohit and Kohli in India’s ODI setup, underscoring their fitness, current form, and vast experience as valuable assets ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
“Yes, absolutely, they should go. Given their fitness levels and how they are performing for the Indian team right now–coupled with the sheer amount of service they have given to the team–their experience alone is immense. They should definitely play and help win the World Cup for us,” he signed off.
