Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has put his weight behind Shubman Gill to find a new leadership template in the five-match series against England. Chopra reckons Gill would have some traits of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in his captaincy after playing under the veteran duo.
Gill was handed over the captaincy baton after Rohit Sharma announced his retirement. The 25-year-old recently took Gujarat Titans to IPL 2025 playoffs and led from the front as he scored 650 runs in 15 matches of the tournament at the average of 50. But there is no doubt that leading India in the red-ball version is going to be a different ball game altogether.
“Shubman Gill – what kind of captain will he be? Will it be like Rohit Sharma or will it be Virat Kohli? What sort of captaincy can you expect? I feel he will have to write a different story. He will have to find a new template,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“It might have someone’s imprint because they inspire you. When you stay and play with someone and grow in someone’s shadow, you learn from them. You imbibe the good things from them, that your leadership style will be inspired by some things, and you will do the other things differently,” he added.
Chopra backed Gill to create a pack of wolves in the Test team with senior players like Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul.
“What is my thought process? Create a pack of wolves. You have many young players with you now. Of course, one or two seniors will be seen, in which Jasprit Bumrah looks like a towering figure. KL Rahul is there, but he is that kind of a character who will keep his arms around your shoulder and become a friend’s friend. It seems like he is the most accommodating guy,” he said.
The renowned commentator urged Gill to include players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Jasprit Bumrah in his leadership group.
“Assemble a new leadership gang, which should have Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Jasprit Bumrah, and you bring them together. The one-for-all and all-for-one philosophy should start traveling among everyone. If he does that, I think he will create a phenomenal legacy,” Chopra observed.
The opening Test match between India and England will be played at Leeds, Headingley, from June 20 onwards.
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