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 have to observe a player before making any judgment’ – Kapoor on Shubman Gill
Notably, Team India will soon be preparing for the five-Test series against England. The tour away from home will begin on 20 June, the selectors are expected to name a new red-ball skipper soon. While Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul remain in contention, Gill has emerged as the frontrunner. The management believes he has the qualities to grow into a long-term leader. However, Kapoor pointed out the need to avoid comparisons or expectations.
“I’m not an astrologer. We’re watching him lead in T20 cricket, but when Dhoni was named captain for the World Cup, he hadn’t captained anywhere. Nobody knew back then that he’d go on to become one of the world’s best captains,” said the former India spinner. If you had asked someone at that time, even Dhoni himself, what they thought of his captaincy, there would’ve been no answer. You have to observe a player over some time before making any judgment. Shubman hasn’t even started yet, so it’s very difficult to say,” he added.
Meanwhile, the youngster’s leadership in the IPL has been marked by calmness. With Bumrah’s fitness a concern and Rahul seen more as a short-term option, the Punjab batter looks set to be picked as India’s new Test skipper.
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