Photo Credit: Instagram Photos of @vikramrathourofficial and @shubmangill
Former India batting coach Vikram Rathour has recognized Shubman Gill as a future leader for the Indian cricket team across all formats, citing his composure and exceptional talent.
Rathour’s endorsement comes in light of Gill’s recent outstanding performances and leadership qualities, making him a strong candidate for captaincy.
Rathour first noticed Gill’s potential during net sessions, where he was immediately impressed by the youngster’s talent. Recalling his initial impression to The Indian Express, Rathour said, “When I first saw him in the nets, my first impression was like everybody else’s. I saw exactly what a lot of people were talking about and spoke about his special talent. When I first saw him playing, the immediate thought that went into my mind was ‘wow, this kid is extremely talented’. He knew his game, he understood how he needs to bat in different situations and never shied away from challenges.”
At 24, Gill has established himself as a remarkable player in all formats, particularly noted for his outstanding run in ODIs in 2023. In 29 matches, he scored 1584 runs, maintaining an average of 63.36.
Rathour believes that taking on the captaincy will further enhance Gill’s performance, similar to how it benefited Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
“I feel captaincy brought the best out of Virat and Rohit and I feel it will do the same for Shubman. Although he is not yet the captain, being in the leadership group will bring the best out of him as well. This, I am very sure of. When you are in that role, leading others, it gives you that extra bit of responsibility, which is good and I think is great for a young kid like Shubman, who one day might lead India in all three formats” he added.
