‘He hasn’t yet faced the worst days of captaincy’ – Gautam Gambhir on India skipper Shubman Gill

Since Shubman Gill took over as India’s Test captain, the team has won four of seven matches, losing only two. This includes a 2-2 draw in the five-match series against England, followed by a clean sweep of the West Indies at home.

However, head coach Gautam Gambhir says Shubman Gill hasn’t established himself as captain just yet.

The head coach believes that any captain becomes tougher in his thinking and leadership qualities only after going through some extremely difficult moments. When Gill finds himself in difficult waters, it will be a true test for the 26-year-old, determining whether he is capable of leading the Indian squad.

“It’s still very early days—he has captained only a few Test matches so far. The most important quality I see is his ability to handle pressure and tough situations. Gill is very much a work in progress; he hasn’t yet faced the worst days of captaincy, which will inevitably come. It will test him personally and as a leader and I want to see how he responds when things don’t go his way,” Gambhir said via JioStar.

On his relationship with Gill, Gambhir has said that as long as he is the head coach of the team, he will always be available for protecting him. He further believes that he is also willing to absorb the pressure off the Indian skipper’s shoulders so that it doesn’t affect the team’s on-field performances and the dressing room atmosphere remains a healthy one.

“I’ve told him I’m always here to support, back, and protect him. My role as coach is to take the pressure and criticism off his shoulders, as long as he does the right things for the team and remains transparent and honest with the players inside the dressing room. That is the foundation for earning respect. So far, he has been absolutely brilliant—transparent, upfront, hardworking, and focused on doing the right things. What more can a coach ask of a captain who is willing to put everything on the line?” he added.