Shubman Gill: Young 'Prince' Leading India's Post-Rohit, Kohli Era

Shubman Gill: Young 'Prince' Leading India's Post-Rohit, Kohli Era (Image Source: AFP)

Shubman Gill, long Indian cricket's "Prince" in waiting, has been entrusted with leading a new era after the Test retirements of greats Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

The 25-year-old Gill was identified in 2020 as a batting successor to Kohli after impressing on his Test debut in Melbourne, where he opened and made 45 and an unbeaten 35 as India beat Australia by eight wickets.

Gifted with a wide variety of shots at the top of the order, it has been Gill's inspiring leadership of Gujarat Titans that clinched his elevation to the Test captaincy to succeed Rohit.

Gill played a captain's knock of 93 this week to secure a place in the playoffs for Gujarat, who were IPL champions in their 2022 debut season.

"I have talked about this a couple of times, when I'm batting, I want to play and think as a batsman, not as a captain. At the back end last season I learnt that," said Gill, who is in his second season leading Gujarat.

Gill, who has scored 636 runs at an average of 57.81 to lie second on the IPL batting charts, has led from the front and been dubbed "Prince" by pundits in the cricket-obsessed country.

"Let Shubman Gill remain Shubman Gill instead of calling him a 'Prince'," said former India wicketkeeper and Gujarat assistant coach Parthiv Patel.

"You gave him this name from the commentary box. He is leading from the front and makes his presence felt in the dressing room.

"He doesn't talk much, but his words carry a lot of weight."

Rohit and batting great Kohli's departures paved the way for Gill to lead a young India squad for five Tests in England beginning on June 20.

Other candidates included Jasprit Bumrah, who was Rohit's deputy in Australia this year, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul.

- Competitive instinct -

Gill got the nod but he has big boots to fill.

Rohit won 12 of his 24 Tests as skipper and his predecessor Kohli was India's most successful Test captain with 40 wins from 68 matches in charge.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar had already identified Gill's leadership credentials and competitive instinct ahead of his appointment, and he urged fans to give him time.

"It would take a couple of years to get to the level of our 'super captains'," said Gavaskar.

"All of them brought something unique to the table.

"When you look at Gill, Iyer, and Pant... you can see a mix of different qualities.

"Gill seems the most competitive. When there's a close call, he's quick to question the umpire. He's very involved in the game."

In 2023, Gill scored a Twenty20 hundred to become the fifth Indian batsman -- including Kohli and Rohit -- to record centuries across all three formats.

Gill, who hails from a family of farmers in the northern state of Punjab, said he owed much of his success to his father.

"I think the way I practise and the way my dad made me practise... 90 percent of the credit should go to him because it was his vision," said Gill.

Gill has played 32 Tests, scoring 1,893 runs at an average of 35.05 with five hundreds. But there are question marks over his record outside India. In his 13 overseas Tests, Gill's average is only 29.50.