Mohammad Kaif sees Shubman Gill moving towards ODI captaincy – should India now look to the future?

Who is the next captain?

Shubhman Gill becoming the Test captain had already surprised many people. However, he took over the responsibility at a time when the senior players of the team, like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, had retired, while Jasprit Bumrah was not available in all five matches.

What Gill did in the five-Test series against England was not just batting. He scored 754 runs, including four centuries, an average of 75.40, and a big innings of 269 in a innings, which also at a ground like Edgbaston, Birmingham, where India did not win a Test until this series. After becoming the captain, coming into the field with such numbers and then playing so confidently was what impressed Mohammad Kaif the most.

What does Rohit's future say?

Rohit Sharma has recently won the Champions Trophy for India. He is still playing and performing in ODI cricket. Virat Kohli is also limited to this format. The question is, when both are still playing well in this format, why should Gill be made the captain from now on? The answer lies in the direction of the team. It is not possible to rely on a single captain for a long time, and if a player of Gill's age and form is ready, then why wait?

Young captain with a young team

India entered the field with many new faces in the Test series against England. Shubman Gill led a team in which many players were part of such a long series abroad for the first time. Under his captaincy, India won two Tests and finished the series 2-2. A young captain gave direction to the young team - this is what points to the future.

Can Gill repeat his feat in ODIs?

Shubman Gill's performance in the white ball format is not hidden from anyone. He has scored runs consistently in ODIs. He was one of the highest run-scorers in 2023 and 2024. The Indian ODI opener also scored centuries and maintained a good strike rate. He is an opener, and if such a player becomes the captain, then the team's thinking and style of playing is on him from the first ball of the match to the last over.

Gill's thinking, Gill's patience

Captaincy does not mean just arranging the field or changing the bowling. Captaincy means motivating others even when you yourself are struggling. Shubman Gill did not have a great start on the England tour, but gradually, he silenced the critics with his performances. He responded with the bat, showed patience in the field, and led in the dressing room.

Effect of Gill's captaincy on the players

The effect of every captain is clearly visible on the rest of the team players. Under the captaincy of Shubman Gill, the batsmen appeared full of confidence, and the new bowlers got freedom. It is not that India won every match, but the thinking of the team changed. The young captain gave confidence to the young players - this was the biggest thing.

Should Rohit himself step down?

Rohit Sharma's contribution has been important in taking Indian cricket to the top. However, every captain has to make a decision one day. Should Rohit himself take the initiative and hand over the captaincy to Gill, keeping in mind the ODI World Cup in 2027? After winning the Champions Trophy, this is probably the right time. It is best to step down when you are at the top. This not only gives time to the successor, but the team also gradually adapts to the change.

Should Gill remain the Test captain only?

Some people are of the opinion that Gill should be given captaincy only in Tests, and Rohit should be the captain in ODI cricket. However, such a division has never lasted long in India before. Even the division between Kohli and Rohit could not remain permanent. If Gill is given responsibility, the team will play with the same thinking in all the formats - this strategy has brought success to many teams.

The face of India's next generation

Shubman Gill is just 26 years old. If he is given the captaincy now, he can lead India till the 2027 and 2031 World Cups. The players playing with him are also of his age - Gill will have better coordination with names like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal. With veterans like Rohit or Kohli, these young players can always be a step behind.

Mohammad Kaif speaks on the debate

"He was such a calm captain. He led with composure under pressure. He will get the ODI captaincy as well because we don't know how long Rohit Sharma will continue as captain. Gill is ready to take over. He scores in white-ball. He has performed well as captain here in Tests and led from the front. When you go with a young team, you have to do both things – score with the bat and do well as captain. A brilliant tour for him overall," Kaif said on his YouTube channel.

“Shubman Gill, as captain, created opportunities with both hands in this series. When he became captain, there were many questions as to why he was made captain, looking at his Test record. A young captain reached England under a lot of pressure with a young team. He answered with his bat and it came to a point where he was compared to breaking Sir Don Bradman's record. Such a strong comeback with the bat,” he added.

Has Gill's time come?

All the statistics, events and comments of experts point to one thing - Shubman Gill is no longer just the next option, but the current option. The attitude of the team has changed under his captaincy; he has proved himself, and his age is in his favour. Yes, there will be a lack of experience, but when people with experience are present, Gill will get a full opportunity to learn.

Indian cricket is standing on the verge of change. On one side is the success of Rohit Sharma, on the other side is the possibility of Shubman Gill. Many people, like Mohammad Kaif, believe that Gill is ready. If Rohit himself leaves the captaincy, then this decision will become more comfortable. India now need to go with Gill, because in the coming years, he will be the face who can take India to new heights.

Gill's leadership brings change not only on the field but also in the thinking of the team. This is the biggest reason why making him the next ODI captain is not only the right decision, but also seems necessary.