A gentle breeze rolled off the Swan River while Shubman Gill faced the media in Perth – and an occasional passer-by paused, unsure quite who the softly-spoken batter was. Gill is still some way from the instant recognition Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma command, yet the 26-year-old now wears the armband in both Tests and one-dayers. His image, alongside Australia’s Mitchell Marsh, decorates half the billboards promoting Friday’s series opener at Optus Stadium, a visible sign of the handover India hope will carry them towards the 2027 World Cup.
Gill comes across relaxed rather than overawed, even with two modern greats still in the dressing-room. He reminded reporters that the chance to lead players he once watched wide-eyed is something he does not take for granted.
“These are the kind of players I used to idolise when I was growing up. The kind of hunger that they had used to inspire me,” he said. “It is a big honour for me to be able to lead such legends of the game. I am sure there would be so many moments in this series where I would be able to learn from them.
“If I get in a difficult position, I wouldn’t shy away from taking advice from them.”
Rohit remains in the XI despite surrendering the captaincy, a situation that has inevitably generated whispers about how smoothly the baton will pass. Gill was quick to bat those aside.
“The narrative that goes on outside is different. There’s nothing like that between us – things are just as they were before,” he insisted. “He is very helpful. And whatever he has learned from his experience, or if I think I need some help, I ask him what he would have done in a particular situation.
“I like to know everyone’s thoughts and then decide as per my understanding of the game. In that respect, I have a great equation with both Virat bhai and Rohit bhai. Whenever I have a doubt, I go to them and take their suggestion, advice, and they also don’t hesitate in sharing [their knowledge].”
India will play three ODIs in a compact six-day window, giving the new skipper a first look at the balance he prefers. Since assuming the Test role he has peeled off five hundreds in 13 innings, his average climbing sharply. Translating that to the 50-over format – in which he already averages 59 from 55 matches – is the next challenge.
“I like it when I have the additional responsibility. The pressure brings out my best,” Gill said. “I enjoy that responsibility, though I feel when I go out to bat, I take the best decision when I think as a batsman and do not think too mu
The final words trailed off, the quote ending mid-sentence, yet the meaning was clear enough: captain or not, Gill wants his mind on the ball rather than the badge.
Selection meetings this week suggested he will keep things simple: the familiar top three intact, room for a second spinner on what is forecast to be a dry Perth surface, and Jasprit Bumrah managing his overs with World Test Championship fixtures in mind. One coach put it plainly: “No need to rip everything up when the old guard are still playing well.”
Australia, for their part, are missing three first-choice quicks and will lean on Marsh and the ever-green Adam Zampa. The hosts know India have not won an ODI series here since 2019, a statistic Marsh quietly referenced on Wednesday. “They’ve got the new skipper, plenty of motivation; we need to start fast,” he said.
Gill’s own view was typically understated. “We’re in a good space,” he offered, “but we’ll find out soon enough how good.”
That mix of confidence and calm is likely to define his tenure. Whether it also delivers the limited-overs silverware India crave will begin to unfold under the Perth lights tomorrow.
