Indian cricket has witnessed a whirlwind of changes in the past month. After a monumental 17-year wait, the men’s team clinched the T20 World Cup, restoring their glory on the global stage. This landmark victory was swiftly followed by a significant shake-up in the coaching lineup, marking one of the most dynamic appointments in the nation’s cricket history. The forthcoming tour of Sri Lanka not only heralds a new epoch under the guidance of head coach Gautam Gambhir but also ushers in a fresh leadership dynamic within the team. Hardik Pandya was initially expected to step into the captaincy role post Rohit Sharma’s exit. However, in an unexpected turn, Suryakumar Yadav has been handed the T20I captaincy, with Shubman Gill surprisingly named as the vice-captain for both white-ball formats.
Gill’s ascent to the vice-captaincy may have baffled some, but it comes on the heels of his recent performances as a stand-in captain during India’s tour of Zimbabwe, where he led a predominantly second-string squad in the shortest format. Despite the personnel changes within the coaching staff, Gill emphasized that the core principles of the team have remained unaffected.
“Communication has been the same like it used to be,” Gill stated during a press conference ahead of the T20I series. “We are the World Champions, and it’s about maintaining that consistency. Hopefully, with the new coach and support staff, we achieve even greater success.”
Gill shares a common Indian Premier League (IPL) connection with Gambhir through the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). However, their tenures at KKR never overlapped, as Gambhir left the franchise ahead of the 2018 season, just before Gill was drafted into the side. Gill remained with KKR until 2021 before moving to the Gujarat Titans. Meanwhile, Gambhir returned to KKR prior to the 2024 season, leading the franchise to championship victory. Although their timelines at KKR did not coincide, Gill spoke positively about his initial experiences with Gambhir.
“We’ve only had two net sessions with him (Gambhir). This is my first time working with him. His intentions and communications have been very clear. He knows precisely what he wants from each player,” Gill praised his new coach.
Gill also drew parallels between the new captain Suryakumar Yadav and Gambhir. “The line of thinking and mindset (of Suryakumar and Gambhir) are on the same page. I had played under Surya Bhai in South Africa too. Their understanding is similar, and I think you’ll see that reflected on the field.”
Abhishek Nayar, another significant figure in Gill’s journey, also received high praise from the young cricketer. Nayar, who shares a more prolonged and substantial KKR connection with Gill, has been the batting coach for the Kolkata franchise for several years.
. Gill highlighted Nayar’s dedication and work ethic as his standout qualities.
“He (Nayar) is extremely hardworking and stays on the ground for long hours, ensuring that players are satisfied with their progress. That is his biggest positive,” Gill remarked.
The past 12-18 months have been tumultuous for Gill in T20 cricket. At 24, he topped the run charts in the 2023 IPL season, amassing 890 runs at an average of 59, with a strike rate nearing 158. Nonetheless, his international T20 performances have been less consistent, despite managing to score a century and a fifty in 14 games before the World Cup. Reflecting on his World Cup exclusion, Gill viewed it as a valuable learning experience.
“Regarding the World Cup selection, I think my T20I performances before that weren’t up to my expectations. But going forward, we’ll be playing around 30-40 games in this cycle, and my focus will be on performing better as a batter,” Gill explained.
Gill’s leadership stint in Zimbabwe received accolades, but his batting drew mixed reactions. Although he scored two half-centuries, his strike rate was notably lower than peers like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. However, Gill considered intense competition for spots as beneficial for the team. Now, with added responsibilities as vice-captain across white-ball formats, the expectations on him have inevitably increased.
“As a batsman, nothing changes. When I’m out there, I still need to perform and win matches for my team and country. That remains constant. On the field, making more decisions than as just a player is the main difference,” Gill said.
Gill’s T20I opening partnership with Jaiswal has already shown promising results. In the eight matches they have opened together, they have two century stands and a fifty partnership, placing them fourth on India’s list of most successful opening pairs in T20I history. Gill attributes their success to a strong mutual understanding and chemistry.
“We enjoy batting together. Our shot selection complements each other well. Also, being a right-left combination helps. We’ve had many good partnerships in our limited games together. There’s clarity and understanding between us, and it’s a lot of fun,” Gill concluded.