As Team India enters a new age of Test cricket, newly made captain Shubman Gill gave his take on the experience of playing under the command of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. At 25 years old, he replaced Rohit, who bid farewell to the red-ball game just before India’s tour of England.
A New Era Begins For Indian Cricket
Gill’s captaincy marks the beginning of a transitional phase for the Indian Test team. With stalwarts like Kohli, Rohit, and veteran spinner R. Ashwin retired, the spotlight is now on the next generation to carry the legacy forward. India will face a major test during their upcoming five-match Test series in England, scheduled between June and August 2025.
Learning From Kohli’s Proactive Style
Shubman Gill attributed Virat Kohli for being a dynamic force on the pitch during games. Recalling his early performances in the Indian team, Gill reported that Kohli always arrived with several plans to address the bowlers, making sure the bowlers knew what to do, irrespective of the game scenario. Such a high level of engagement, he said, was a big contributing factor to keeping the team on point and vigilant.
“When I played under Virat Bhai, I think his proactiveness in the Test matches on the field or with the ideas or with his thinking was something that I like and I picked up. If he thinks that is okay, this plan is not working, he will immediately have another plan, communicate it with the bowlers on what he wants from them,” Gill mentioned in a chat with Sky Sports.
Rohit Sharma’s Calm Leadership
Conversely, Gill had labeled Rohit Sharma’s leadership as calmer on the surface but fiercely tactical deeper within. He noted that though Rohit might not always display overt aggressiveness, his game plans tended to have a fierce, strategic bite. Famous for his witty and blunt stump-mic gaffes, Rohit also infused a sporty twist into leadership that appealed to teammates. According to Gill, whatever on-field tantrums or outbursts the Rohit did were always taken in the right spirit—part of the competitive environment, never personal.
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“It can seem that Rohit Bhai is not aggressive, but he can be very aggressive in terms of his tactics. Tactically, he is quite an aggressive captain. “He is someone who is very clear with his communication prior to the matches, during the series and even after the series on what he wants from the players,” he mentioned.
