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    STUMP VISION                                                        OCTOBER 24, 2025  |      The Indian Eye 41

                              Shubman Gill’s Leadership

                    Test Begins in Australia as Rohit,

                                 Virat Offer Guiding Hand

              The young opener’s first ODI series as captain comes amid India’s leadership transition,

                                         with support from senior pros and a watchful coach.

            OUR BUREAU                                                                                            GAMBHIR’S MENTORSHIP AND
            Perth / New Delhi                                                                                            THE ROAD AHEAD

                                                                                                                        eam India’s head coach Gau-
                  s Team India gears up for its                                                                         tam Gambhir has also lauded
                  three-match ODI series in
            AAustralia beginning Sunday,                                                                          TGill’s temperament and open-
            all eyes are on Shubman Gill. The                                                                     ness to learn. Speaking on JioStar,
                                                                                                                  Gambhir said the youngster’s early
            26-year-old, who takes charge of In-                                                                  steps as captain have been impres-
            dia’s  one-day  side  for  the  first  time                                                           sive, though real challenges are yet to
            after replacing Rohit Sharma, stands                                                                  come.
            at the threshold of a defining moment                                                                     “It’s still very early days — he
            in his young career — steering the na-                                                                has captained only a few Test match-
            tional team through a new phase of                                                                    es so far,” Gambhir said. “The most
            leadership transition.                                                                                important quality I see is his ability to
                India will face Australia in three
            ODIs on October 20, 23, and 25, fol-                                                                  handle pressure and tough situations.
                                                                                                                  Gill is a work in progress; he hasn’t
            lowed by five T20Is starting October                                                                  yet faced the worst days of captaincy,
            29. The series marks the return of                                                                    which will inevitably come. It will test
            stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat                                                                      him personally and as a leader, and
            Kohli to international action since                                                                   I want to see how he responds when
            the ICC Champions Trophy final ear-                                                                   things don’t go his way.”
            lier this year. For Gill, their presence                                                                  Gambhir, known for his aggres-
            in the dressing room offers both re-                                                                  sive yet methodical approach, also
            assurance and an invaluable learning                                                                  highlighted his role in shielding Gill
            experience.
                                                                                                                  from external noise.
                                                                                                                      “I’ve told him I’m always here to
              ‘PERFECT SITUATION’ FOR A                 Team India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir with Shubman Gill (ANI)   support, back, and protect him. My

                    YOUNG LEADER                                                                                  role as coach is to take the pressure
                                                                                                                  and criticism off his shoulders, as long
               ndia’s all-rounder Axar Patel be-  demeanor under pressure, noting   in recent years.              as he does the right things for the team
               lieves the timing could not be bet-  that the right-handed opener has   What followed was a stellar dis-  and remains transparent and honest
            Iter for Gill to grow into his new   approached  the  responsibility  with   play of grit and consistency. Lead-  inside the dressing room,” he said.
            role. Speaking to reporters ahead of   maturity. “He is not being pressured   ing  India  in  the  five-match  Ander-  “So far, he has been absolutely bril-
            the opening ODI in Perth, Patel said   after taking up the role as captain.   son–Tendulkar Trophy series in   liant — transparent, upfront, hard-
            the presence of Rohit and Virat will   That’s a good quality. Now, the   England, Gill not only guided the   working, and focused on doing the
            be crucial for the young skipper’s de-  younger players are coming. This is   team to a hard-fought 2–2 draw but   right things. What more can a coach
            velopment.                        a transition period. We are sharing   also topped the run charts with 754   ask of a captain who is willing to put
                “I think both Rohit and Virat   knowledge with them,” he added.  runs at an average of 75.40, including   everything on the line?”
            are there. We are seeing the transi-                                a career-best 269. His performance
            tion happening. It’s good that the se-  THE MAKING OF A CAPTAIN     earned him the Player of the Series   INDIA’S ODI SQUAD FOR AUSTRALIA:
            niors are with the youngsters at this                               award and established his credentials   Shubman  Gill  (Captain),  Rohit
            phase,” Patel said. “The youngsters      ill’s rapid rise as a leader has   as both a batsman and a leader capa-  Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer
            will know how to handle situations.      been one of the major sto-  ble of thriving under pressure.    (Vice-Captain),  Axar  Patel,  KL
            It’s a perfect situation for Shubman  Grylines in Indian cricket this   Back home, Gill continued his   Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy,
            Gill because he has both Rohit and   year. His leadership journey began   fine form in the West Indies, where   Washington Sundar, Kuldeep
            Virat in the dressing room, who can   earlier in May, when Rohit Sharma   India sealed a 2–0 Test series sweep.   Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed
            also offer their input to him. I think   announced his retirement from Test   He  finished  as  the  third-highest   Siraj,  Arshdeep  Singh,  Prasidh
            it’s very good for his captaincy and   cricket. The selectors handed the Test   run-scorer  with  192  runs,  further   Krishna,  Dhruv  Jurel  (WK),
            for his growth.”                  captaincy baton to Gill, making him   strengthening his claim as a long-term   Yashasvi Jaiswal.
                Patel  also  praised Gill’s calm   the youngest Indian to lead the side   prospect for India’s leadership core.

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