Shubman Gill is about to embark on his first series as India’s Test captain against England, with his leadership style expected to blend elements of Virat Kohli’s intensity and Rohit Sharma’s more relaxed approach. This combination was noted by Jos Buttler, who has witnessed Gill’s leadership qualities firsthand during their time with the Gujarat Titans in this year’s IPL.
Gill, having led Gujarat into the playoffs, drew praise from Buttler in their podcast, “For the Love of Cricket,” which Buttler hosts alongside Stuart Broad. Buttler described Gill as “a really impressive player and an impressive young man,” mentioning his calm demeanour off the field but a more fiery presence on it. “I think he’ll be a mix of Kohli and Rohit,” Buttler explained, highlighting Kohli’s aggressive transformation of the team and Rohit’s cooler, though equally competitive, style.
Acknowledging Gill’s learning from these two cricketing giants, Buttler is confident Gill will carve out his own path. He also touched upon the immense public attention Indian cricketers receive, noting that it’s hard for English fans to fully grasp. Reflecting on his personal experiences, he said, “I don’t think we can quite understand the level of interest and the stardom that these guys have.”
A significant challenge for Gill will be managing the pressures of captaincy while ensuring it does not interfere with his batting performance. Drawing from his own experiences, Buttler warned, “He talked about compartmentalising batting and captaining; so when he’s batting he just wants to be a batter.”
Gill’s leadership journey comes with immense expectations, especially given the legacy of his predecessors like Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar. Buttler encapsulated the challenge, “Stepping into that No. 4, it’s big shoes, isn’t it?”
India’s Test series in England kicks off on June 20 in Leeds, a critical opportunity for Gill to showcase his potential as a future leader of Indian cricket.
